Clear Channel Outdoor, LLC v. City of New Rochelle

Request

Clear Channel Outdoor, LLC asked the court for permission to file an unredacted statement of undisputed material facts and specified exhibits under seal in connection with its motion for summary judgment and its opposition to the defendants’ cross-motion for summary judgment. The City did not oppose the request.

Reasons for Sealing

Clear Channel said the materials contained confidential and proprietary business information produced during discovery under a protective order. The listed information included terms of Clear Channel’s leases in New Rochelle, lessor and landlord information, billboard operating costs, sign values, expert analyses, its billboard inventory, customer lists, revenue information, and internal communications about strategic plans. Clear Channel argued that disclosure could cause commercial harm and undermine its competitive position. It did not seek to seal its briefs or most of its exhibits.

Ruling

The court granted the plaintiff’s request to file the identified documents under seal. It directed the Clerk of Court to place docket entries 214, 222, 229, 215-1, 215-2, 215-3, 215-4, 215-5, 215-6, 215-7, and 231-1 under seal, accessible only to the court and the parties. The court also directed the Clerk to terminate the motions at docket entries 239 and 208. The order addressed access to court filings and did not decide the parties’ underlying commercial dispute.