`Case 1:20-cv-00393-LO-TCB Document 671 Filed 05/27/21 Page 1 of 3 PageID# 15199
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`UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
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`FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA
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`Alexandria Division
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`) Civil Action No. 1:20-cv-393 (LO/TCB)
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`ORDER
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`RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC.,
`et al. ,
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`Plaintiffs,
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`v.
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`ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES LLC,
`et al. ,
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`Defendants.
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`This matter comes before the Court on Defendant Philip Morris Products S.A.’s
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`(“Defendant”) Motion Seal (Dkt. 625) and supporting memorandum (Dkt. 630). Defendant seeks
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`leave to file under seal an unredacted version of its Opposition to Reynolds” Motion to Compel
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`Rule 30(b)(6) Witnesses Relating to'lnjunctive Relief (“Opposition”) and accompanying Exhibit
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`1. (Dkt. 629.) Plaintiffs RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc. and R]. Reynolds Vapor Company
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`(“Plaintiffs”) filed a reply in support of Defendant’s motion (Dkt. 65 8) pursuant to Local Civil
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`Rule 5(C). See L. CiV. R. 5(C).
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`District courts have authority to seal court documents “if the public’s right of access is
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`outweighed by competing interests.” Ashcrafi v. Conoco, Inc., 218 F.3d 288, 302 (4th Cir. 2000).
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`Procedurally, a district court may seal court filings if it (1) “provide[s] public notice of the
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`request to seal and allow[s] interested parties a reasonable opportunity to object, (2) consider[s]
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`less drastic alternatives to scaling the documents, and (3) provide[s] specific reasons and factual
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`findings supporting its decision to seal the documents and for rejecting the alternatives.” Id.
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`Case 1:20-cv-00393-LO-TCB Document 671 Filed 05/27/21 Page 2 of 3 Page|D# 15200
`Case 1:20-cv-00393-LO-TCB Document 671 Filed 05/27/21 Page 2 of 3 PageID# 15200
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`Upon consideration of the parties’ filings, the Court makes the following findings.
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`First, Defendant has provided public notice of its request to seal and interested parties
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`have been given a reasonable opportunity to object. Defendant filed its motion and public notice
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`on May 19, 2021. (See Dkts. 625, 626.) Because over seven days have elapsed since Defendant
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`filed the motion and no interested party has objected, the Court may treat this motion as
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`uncontested under Local Civil Rule 5(C). See L. Civ. R. 5(C). Accordingly, Defendant has
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`satisfied this requirement under Ashcraft and the Local Civil Rules.
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`Second, this Court has considered less drastic alternatives. Defendant filed a redacted
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`version of its Opposition on the public docket. (Dkt. 624.) This selective protection of
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`information constitutes the least drastic measure of sealing confidential material. See Adams v.
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`Object Innovation, Inc, No. 3:110V272-REP-DWD, 2011 WL 7042224, at *4 (ED. Va. Dec. 5,
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`2011) “[The] proposal to redact only the proprietary and confidential information, rather than
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`seal the entirety of [the document], constitutes the least drastic method of shielding the
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`information at issue”), report and recommendation adopted, 2012 WL 135428 (ED. Va. Jan.
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`17, 2012).
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`Finally, the Court finds reason to seal the Opposition and Exhibit 1. The redacted
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`portions of the Opposition contain the parties’ confidential business information, which is also
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`protected by the protective order in this case. Exhibit 1 consists of confidential communications
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`between counsel in this matter. This confidential information contains sensitive information
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`about the parties’ expert witnesses and testimony. Release of this information to the public could
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`lead to competitive harm to the parties in this lawsuit and to third parties.
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`Case 1:20-cv-00393-LO-TCB Document 671 Filed 05/27/21 Page 3 of 3 Page|D# 15201
`Case 1:20-cv-00393-LO-TCB Document 671 Filed 05/27/21 Page 3 of 3 PageID# 15201
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`Accordingly, it is hereby
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`ORDERED that Defendant’s motion (Dkt. 625) is GRANTED. Docket number 629
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`shall remain permanently under seal.
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`ENTERED this 27th day of May, 2021.
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`ls/
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`arroll Buchanan
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`' ed States Magistrate Judge
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` TH *
`SA CARROLL BUCHANAN
`UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
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`Alexandria, Virginia
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