Coscarelli v. Esquared Hospitality LLC

Background

Defendants ESquared Hospitality LLC and BC Hospitality Group LLC, formerly known as CCSW LLC, submitted a letter-motion seeking permission to file four categories of material under seal. The materials related to Defendants’ opposition to Plaintiff Chef Chloe LLC’s motion to confirm a partial final arbitration award and Defendants’ cross-motion to vacate that award.

The four categories were: (1) Defendants’ memorandum of law; (2) excerpts from the hearing transcript in the parallel arbitration; (3) confidential corporate agreements and other documents describing corporate transactions at issue in the arbitration; and (4) an excerpt from the deposition of Warren Valdmanis, whom the letter described as a non-party. Defendants argued that the materials contained information about the arbitration award, confidential corporate transactions, non-parties’ information, and commercially sensitive business matters. Plaintiff disagreed that the materials warranted sealing.

Ruling

The court temporarily granted the motion to seal. It stated that it would decide whether to keep the materials sealed or require redactions when ruling on the underlying motions. The Clerk was directed to terminate ECF No. 183. The order did not make a final determination about continued sealing or redaction and did not decide the underlying motions concerning the arbitration award.