Talavera v. City Of New York

Background

Sonia Talavera, acting as administrator of the estate of Herman Tito Diaz, and certain defendants identified in the order as the City Defendants jointly applied for the production and/or unsealing of information concerning non-party inmates. The requested information might have been sealed or protected from disclosure under New York Criminal Procedural Law §§ 160.50 and/or 160.55.

Court’s Reasoning

The order states that the requested information was material and relevant to the pending civil action. It further states that the federal court had inherent authority to unseal records covered by those New York provisions in connection with the action. The order cites a prior Southern District of New York decision stating that federal courts can order production of documents sealed under section 160.50.

Ruling

The court ordered that documents and information concerning non-party inmates whose information might be sealed or protected under New York Criminal Procedural Law §§ 160.50 and/or 160.55 were unsealed and could be made available for use in the civil action. Judge Colleen McMahon signed the order.

Procedural Posture and Effect

This was an order concerning access to information for use in ongoing civil litigation. It did not decide the underlying claims in the case. The opinion text does not identify the specific documents or information unsealed.