Judge: Kevin C. Brazile, Case: 25STCV06241, Date: 2025-05-08 Tentative Ruling

Hearing Date: May 8, 2025

Case Name: Sony Pictures Television, Inc., et al. v. CBS Studios Inc., et al.

Case No.: 24STCV28777

Matter: Motion to Seal

Moving Party: CBS 

Responding Party: Unopposed

Ruling: The Motion to Seal is granted.

CBS to give notice.

The Court encourages all parties to appear remotely via LA CourtConnect.  If submitting on the Court's tentative ruling, please follow the instructions provided above.

On October 31, 2024, Plaintiffs Sony Pictures Television, Inc. (“Sony”), Jeopardy Productions, Inc., and Califon Productions, Inc. filed a Complaint against CBS Studios Inc. (“CBS”) for breach of contract.  

On January 2, 2025, CBS filed a First Amended Cross-Complaint alleging various claims for breach of contract and declaratory relief. 

On March 3, 2025, Plaintiffs filed the operative First Amended Complaint for breach of contract.

CBS now seeks to seal various papers and exhibits filed in support of its Reply for the preliminary injunction hearing in this matter.

Unless confidentiality is required by law, court records are presumed to be open to public review.  (Cal. Rules of Court 2.550(c); see also Cal. Const., art. I, § 3, subd. (b)(1) [“The people have the right of access to information concerning the conduct of the people’s business”].)  “The court may order that a record be filed under seal only if it expressly finds facts that establish: (1) There exists an overriding interest that overcomes the right of public access to the record; (2) The overriding interest supports sealing the record; (3) A substantial probability exists that the overriding interest will be prejudiced if the record is not sealed; (4) The proposed sealing is narrowly tailored; and (5) No less restrictive means exist to achieve the overriding interest.”  (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 2.550(d); see also NBC Subsidiary (KNBC-TV), Inc. v. Superior Court (1999) 20 Cal.4th 1178, 1217-1218.)

The Court finds that there is an overriding interest in the documents due to their financial and proprietary nature; this interest supports a sealing order; if there is no sealing, CBS could suffer financial harm; the proposed sealing is narrowly tailored; and there are no less restrictive means to achieve the interest.

The Motion to Seal is granted.

CBS to give notice.