Judge: H. Jay Ford, III, Case: 20SMCV01932, Date: 2023-05-02 Tentative Ruling

Case Number: 20SMCV01932    Hearing Date: May 2, 2023    Dept: O

  Case Name:  nZania, LLC, et al. v. B.B. Dakota, Inc., et al.     

SUBJECT:                 MOTION TO SEAL  

MOVING PARTY:   Defendants Gloria Brandes, as an individual and as Trustee of the Brandes Trust dated November 28, 1994; The Gloria Brandes 2019 ING Special Trust; Katharine Brandes, as an individual, the Trustee of the Katharine C. Brandes 2019 NGCC Special Trust; and Philip B. Brandes, as an individual and the Trustee of the Philip B. Brandes 2019 ING Special Trust (“Brandes Defendants”)

RESP. PARTY:         None as of 4-26-23  

TENTATIVE RULING

Defendants Gloria Brandes, as an individual and as Trustee of the Brandes Trust dated November 28, 1994; The Gloria Brandes 2019 ING Special Trust; Katharine Brandes, as an individual, the Trustee of the Katharine C. Brandes 2019 NGCC Special Trust; and Philip B. Brandes, as an individual and the Trustee of the Philip B. Brandes 2019 ING Special Trust’s (“Brandes Defendants”) Motion to Seal is GRANTED.

            Brandes Defendants move to seal their motion for determination of good faith settlement, their reply and Buchalter Defendants’ opposition.  Brandes Defendants’ motion to seal would redact references to the settlement amount, the amount of their insurance limits and the entirety of the settlement agreement.  Brandes Defendants establish an overriding interest supporting closure or sealing based on the confidentiality provisions in the settlement agreement, the protective order and the Brandes Defendants right to privacy.  The proposed sealing is narrowly tailored to seal the settlement agreement and those references in the briefing to the settlement amounts, payments under the 2019 Agreement and Madden Agreement and insurance limits.