CrossBorder Solutions v. Macias
- Nelson Roman
- 7:20-cv-04877
- U.S. District Court · Southern District of New York
- 3
In CrossBorder Solutions v. Macias, Gini, & OConnell, LLP, Judge Roman granted defendants’ request to seal specified case filings.
The parties to the case, particularly the defendants seeking to seal materials and the plaintiffs who consented; the sealed documents are accessible only to the court and the parties.
What happened
In CrossBorder Solutions, Inc. n/k/a Exactera Inc. v. Macias, Gini, & OConnell, LLP, the defendants asked to file specified summary-judgment materials and exhibits under seal. The plaintiffs consented.
The materials included portions of legal briefs, statements of facts, deposition excerpts, interrogatory responses, and exhibits containing trade secrets, confidential business information, and client names. The defendants argued that public disclosure could cause competitive harm.
Judge Nelson S. Roman granted the request. He directed the Clerk to place the listed filings under seal, making them accessible only to the court and the parties, and directed the Clerk to terminate the sealing motion.
The detailed version
- CrossBorder Solutions v. Macias · No. 7:20-cv-04877
- Nelson Roman
- Apr. 20, 2023
Background
Defendants Macias, Gini, & O’Connell, LLP and Sanjay Agarwal renewed their request for permission to file documents under seal in connection with their motion for summary judgment and their opposition to the plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment. The request was made under the parties’ confidentiality agreement and protective order and the court’s April 17, 2023 order. The plaintiffs’ counsel consented.
Materials at Issue
The requested sealing covered portions of the defendants’ summary-judgment memorandum and statement of undisputed facts; portions of the defendants’ opposition memorandum and response to the plaintiffs’ statement of facts; exhibits that the plaintiffs had sought to file under seal; and listed exhibits to declarations supporting the defendants’ motion and opposition. The exhibits included deposition excerpts and exhibits, deposition testimony containing client names, and the plaintiffs’ responses to interrogatories.
Court’s Reasoning
The request stated that the materials contained trade secrets and other confidential business information, including information from CrossBorder’s Master List and information about MGO’s clients. Some materials had also been marked “Highly Confidential” by the parties or by former defendants Liga Hoy and Jiaxin “Claire” Song. The defendants argued that disclosure could cause competitive harm. The court’s order granted the request to file the identified documents under seal.
Disposition
The court directed the Clerk to place ECF Nos. 234-1 through 234-7 and 249-1 through 249-6 under seal, accessible only to the court and the parties. It also directed the Clerk to terminate the motion at ECF No. 276. This order addressed access to court filings and did not decide the parties’ summary-judgment motions or the underlying claims.
Read the full 3-page opinion on CourtListener, the free public archive maintained by the Free Law Project.