M. v. Uber Technologies, Inc. ( 2023 )

1 2 3 4 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 5 NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 6 7 A. M., Case No. 23-cv-03406-JD 8 Plaintiff, ORDER RE PLAINTIFF’S MOTION 9 v. FOR PROTECTIVE ORDER AND LEAVE TO PROCEED UNDER A 10 UBER TECHNOLOGIES, INC., et al., PSEUDONYM 11 Defendants. 12 Plaintiff A.M. alleges claims related to a sexual assault. A.M. asks to proceed 13 pseudonymously and for a protective order directing defendants to file under seal any documents 14 stating her true name. Dkt. No. 3. Defendants do not oppose plaintiff’s motion. 15 A.M. has satisfied the controlling test in Does I thru XXIII v. Advanced Textile Corp., 214 16 F.3d 1058 (9th Cir. 2000). She credibly alleges that she could be subjected to “extreme personal 17 embarrassment” if her true name is made public, Dkt. No. 3 at 4, and has shown that her “need for 18 anonymity outweighs prejudice to the opposing party and the public’s interest in knowing the 19 party’s identity,” Does, 214 F.3d at 1068. Specifically, A.M. states that she needs to maintain 20 anonymity because of the stigma that can attach to survivors of sexual assault, and because of the 21 potential for reprisals from her attacker. Dkt. No. 3 at 4. She also states that public disclosure of 22 her identity “could decimate her recovery.” Id. at 5. A.M. will provide her full name to 23 defendants pursuant to the requested protective order. Id. at 6. 24 The requests are granted. Plaintiff may proceed as “A.M.” in all publicly filed court 25 documents. Plaintiff will be referred to as A.M. in all pleadings and other documents related to 26 this litigation, as well as in any proceedings that may be held before the Court. Defendants and 27 their attorneys will not disclose plaintiff’s identity to any other person or entity. If a situation 1 confer with plaintiff on a method of proceeding. The Court will resolve any disagreements with 2 || respect to the procedure. 3 This order may be terminated as warranted by future circumstances. 4 IT IS SO ORDERED. 5 Dated: August 4, 2023 6 7 JAMES FPONATO 8 United Yfates District Judge 9 10 11 12 © 15 16 = 17 Z 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28