Case Information
*1 Case 1:23-cv-00542-SEB-MJD Document 192 Filed 05/03/24 Page 1 of 2 PageID #: 2522
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF INDIANA INDIANAPOLIS DIVISION JOHN DOE 1, et al., )
) Plaintiffs, ) ) v. ) No. 1:23-cv-00542-SEB-MJD ) NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC )
ASSOCIATION, )
) Defendant. ) ORDER
In granting Plaintiffs leave to proceed using pseudonyms in this case, the Court relied on a standard that was expressly rejected in a recent opinion of the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. See Doe v. Trustees of Indiana Univ. , 2024 WL 1824967, at *4 (7th Cir. Apr. 26, 2024). In that case, the Seventh Circuit adopted a stringent standard for permitting a party to proceed anonymously. Id. (finding abuse of discretion to permit litigant "to conceal his name without finding that he is a minor, is at risk of physical harm, or faces improper retaliation (that is, private responses unjustified by the facts as determined in court)"); cf. Doe v. Blue Cross & Blue Shield United of Wisconsin , 112 F.3d 869, 872 (7th Cir. 1997) ("[F]ictitious names are allowed when necessary to protect the privacy of children, rape victims, and other particularly vulnerable parties or witnesses."). Within 14 days of the date of this Order , Plaintiffs shall file a motion to continue to proceed anonymously in which they explain how permitting them to do so is in accordance with Seventh Circuit law. Before filing the motion, Plaintiffs shall ascertain *2 Case 1:23-cv-00542-SEB-MJD Document 192 Filed 05/03/24 Page 2 of 2 PageID #: 2523
whether Defendants wish to file an objection to it. If not, that shall be noted in the motion. If so, the motion shall be briefed pursuant to Local Rule 7-1(c)(3).
SO ORDERED.
Dated: 3 MAY 2024
Distribution:
Service will be made electronically on all
ECF-registered counsel of record via email
generated by the Court's ECF system. 2
