Santora v. Hachette Book Group
- Nelson Roman
- 7:25-cv-05114
- U.S. District Court · Southern District of New York
- 1
In Santora v. Hachette Book Group, Judge Roman granted Hachette leave to redact and seal a confidential agreement for its motion to dismiss.
Hachette Book Group, Inc., which may redact references to the confidential agreement and file the agreement and related documents under seal.
What happened
In Santora v. Hachette Book Group, Inc., Hachette Book Group asked to keep a confidential agreement and related documents under seal and to remove references to the agreement from its motion to dismiss.
Hachette said the agreement’s terms were confidential and that the request was unopposed because the plaintiff had stated that there was no objection to filing the exhibits under seal. The request also followed earlier rulings allowing Hachette to seek dismissal and to request a more definite statement.
The court granted Hachette permission to redact references to the agreement in its motion due November 19, 2025, and to file the agreement and accompanying documents as a sealed exhibit. Judge Nelson S. Roman issued the order.
The detailed version
- Santora v. Hachette Book Group · No. 7:25-cv-05114
- Nelson Roman
- Nov. 10, 2025
Background
Hachette Book Group, Inc. asked the court for permission to redact references to a confidential agreement in its forthcoming motion to dismiss and to file the agreement and related documents under seal as an exhibit to that motion. Hachette stated that the request was unopposed because the plaintiff had previously said there was no objection to filing the defendant’s exhibits under seal.
The court had previously allowed Hachette to file a motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6), which concerns whether a complaint adequately states a claim. Hachette later asked for permission to add a request under Rule 12(e) for a more definite statement, and the court granted that request and continued or stayed the applicable deadline. The court had not addressed Hachette’s earlier request concerning redaction and sealing.
Ruling
The court granted Hachette leave to redact references to the confidential agreement in the motion to dismiss due November 19, 2025. It also granted leave to file the agreement and accompanying documentation as an exhibit under seal attached to the motion. Judge Nelson S. Roman dated the order November 10, 2025.
Read the full 1-page opinion on CourtListener, the free public archive maintained by the Free Law Project.