Case Information
*1 Case 1:24-cv-03927-KPF Document 32 Filed 04/14/25 Page 1 of 2
April 10, 2025 Andrew S. Davis, Esq. andrew@erisabenefitlawyer.com The Honorable Katherine Polk Failla Thurgood Marshall United States Courthouse 40 Foley Square New York, NY 10007 Re: Pearline Boothe v. Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company 1:24-cv-03927-KPF Dear Judge Polk Failla:
We represent Plaintiff Pearline Boothe in the above-referenced matter. We write to request that the parties may file the Administrative Record in the above-referenced matter under seal.
This is an action to recover group long-term disability benefits and is governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”). On summary judgment, this Court will review the administrative record (“AR”) compiled before the Defendant during the claim process. This will be the only exhibit filed Plaintiff intends on filing in her motion for summary judgment.
While there is a presumption of public access to judicial documents, “court documents may be sealed if ‘specific, on the record findings are made demonstrating that closure is essential to preserve higher values and is narrowly tailored to serve that inter est.’” Braxton v. City of New York, 2021 WL 7287625, at *6 (S.D.N.Y. Dec. 7, 2021) (quoting Dunham v. City of New York, No. 11-CV- 01223, 2021 WL 918373, at *1, n.1 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 10, 2021)). “Courts in this circuit regularly allow medical records to be filed under seal, finding that parties have a strong privacy interest in their medical information.” Braxton, at *6 (quoting Spring v. Allegany- Limestone Cent. Sch. Dist., No. 14-CV-0476S, 2021 WL 4166628, at *1 (W.D.N.Y. Sept. 14, 2021); see also Paravas v. Tran, No. 21-CV-807, 2022 WL 741590, at *1 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 11, 2022) (noting plaintiff’s medical records were “properly under seal”).
The AR is 5,113 pages in length and contains thousands of pages of medical records, most of which contain sensitive personal information including addresses, dates of birth, phone *2 Case 1:24-cv-03927-KPF Document 32 Filed 04/14/25 Page 2 of 2 April 10, 2025 Page 2 numbers, social security numbers, etc. In addition, the AR contains significant clinical information Plaintiff provided Defendant during the administrative process.
Accordingly, Plaintiff respectfully requests the Court’s permission to maintain the AR under seal to protect her privacy interests. Defendant consents to this request. Respectfully submitted, /s/ Andrew S. Davis Andrew S. Davis, Esq. Application GRANTED. Plaintiff may file the administrative under seal, in accordance with Rule 9(c)(ii) of this Court's Individual Rules of Practice in Civil Cases. The Clerk of Court is directed to terminate the pending motion at docket entry 31. Dated: April 14, 2025
New York, New York