Judge: Joseph Lipner, Case: 21STCV04671, Date: 2023-09-18 Tentative Ruling

Case Number: 21STCV04671    Hearing Date: December 19, 2023    Dept: 72

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA

COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES

DEPARTMENT 72

TENTATIVE RULING

            Plaintiff LW Acquisitions, LLC (“LW”) moves to seal certain documents submitted in connection with previous briefing that related to issues of attorney-client privilege and work product.

            The Court GRANTS the motion conditionally so long as LW takes the following actions:

1.      LW must file a proposed sealing order that lists each of the documents by name and date of filing.  It must list the entire document, not an exhibit to a document, as the Court has the ability to seal entire documents but no efficient way to seal a portion of the document.

2.      LW must actually file the redacted documents (each as a separate document) that were attached to LW’s Notice of Lodging Redacted Documents filed October 18, 2023.  That will allow the public to review the redacted documents by name if necessary.

Under the facts of this case, the Court makes the findings required by California Rule of Court 2.550(d).  There exists an overriding interest in the redacted portions of these documents that overcomes the right of public access to the record; the overriding interest supports sealing the record; a substantial probability exists that the overriding interest will be prejudiced if the record is not sealed; the proposed sealing is narrowly tailored; and no less restrictive means exist to achieve the overriding interest.