`Case 1:20-cv-00393-LO-TCB Document 678 Filed 05/28/21 Page 1 of 3 PageID# 15260
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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 Plaintiffs RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc. and RJ.
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`Reynolds Vapor Company’s (“Plaintiffs”) Motion to Seal (Dkt. 635) and supporting
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`memorandum (Dkt. 638). Plaintiffs request to file under seal an un-redactcd version of their
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`Reply Brief in Support of their Motion to Compel Defendant Philip Morris Products, SA. to
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`Designate Rule 30(b)(6) Witnesses Relating to Philip Morris Products, S.A.’s Claim for a
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`Permanent Injunction (“Reply”). (Dkt. 637.) Defendants Altria Client Services LLC, Philip
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`Morris USA Inc., and Philip Morris Products S.A. (“Defendants”) replied in support of
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`Plaintiffs’ motion (Dkts. 670) pursuant to Local Civil 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.” Ashcraft 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 sealing the documents, and (3) provide[s] specific reasons and factual
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`Case 1:20-cv-00393-LO-TCB Document 678 Filed 05/28/21 Page 2 of 3 Page|D# 15261
`Case 1:20-cv-00393-LO-TCB Document 678 Filed 05/28/21 Page 2 of 3 PageID# 15261
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`findings supporting its decision to seal the documents and for rejecting the alternatives.” Id.
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`Upon consideration of the parties’ filings, the Court makes the following findings.
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`First, Plaintiffs have provided public notice of their request to seal and interested parties
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`have been given a reasonable opportunity to object. Plaintiffs filed their motion to seal and
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`public notice on May 20, 2021. (See Dkts. 635, 636.) Because over seven days have elapsed
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`since Plaintiffs filed the motion to seal and public notice, and no interested party has objected,
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`the Court may treat this motion as uncontested under Local Civil Rule 5(C). See L. Civ. R. 5(C).
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`Accordingly, Plaintiffs have satisfied this requirement under Ashcraft and the Local Civil Rules.
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`Second, this Court has considered less drastic alternatives. Plaintiffs submitted a redacted
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`version of their Reply. (Dkt. 639.) This selective protection of information constitutes the least
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`drastic measure of sealing confidential material. See Adams v. Object Innovation, Inc., No.
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`3:110v272-REP-DWD, 2011 WL 7042224, at *4 (ED. Va. Dec. 5, 2011) “[The] proposal to
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`redact only the proprietary and confidential information, rather than seal the entirety of [the
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`document], constitutes the least drastic method of shielding the information at issue”), report
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`and recommendation adopted, 2012 WL 135428 (E.D. Va. Jan. 17, 2012).
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`Finally, the Court finds reason to seal the redacted portions of Plaintiffs’ Reply. The
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`redacted portions contain the parties” confidential and proprietary information. This information
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`is also protected under the parties’ stipulated protective order and includes information related to
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`the parties’ confidential financial and technical information, communications, and discovery
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`reSponses. As a result, public disclosure of the information could bring competitive harm to
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`Plaintiffs, Defendants, and third parties.
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`Case 1:20-cv-00393-LO-TCB Document 678 Filed 05/28/21 Page 3 of 3 Page|D# 15262
`Case 1:20-cv-00393-LO-TCB Document 678 Filed 05/28/21 Page 3 of 3 PageID# 15262
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`Accordingly, it is hereby
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`ORDERED that Plaintiffs’ motions to seal (Dkt. 635) is GRANTED. Docket number
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`637 shall remain permanently under seal.
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`ENTERED this 28th day of May, 2021.
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`UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
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`Alexandria, Virginia
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