THOMPSON
v.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
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The District Court for the Middle District of Florida granted the Department of Homeland Security's motion to maintain the sealing of a Certified Administrative Record beyond the 90-day period prescribed by local rule. The court found good cause existed to keep the record sealed due to privacy concerns regarding personal and financial information.
The court granted the motion to maintain the seal of the CAR indefinitely. The court found that good cause existed to overcome the common-law right of access because disclosure of the financial, business, and personal identification information would harm legitimate privacy interests and is not authorized under statute.
“The public has a common-law right to access judicial proceedings, including the right to inspect and copy public records and court documents.”
Establishes the baseline right of public access that must be overcome by good cause.
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceThe case involves Thompson, Pino, and Opal Street LLC as plaintiffs against the Department of Homeland Security. The Certified Administrative Record (…
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Defendant, the United States Department of Homeland Security (Homeland Security), requests an order to maintain the sealing of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services' Certified Administrative Record (CAR), beyond the ninety days outlined in Local Rule 1.11(e), M.D. Fla. (Doc. 54). Plaintiffs Victoria Thompson, Vincenzo Pino, and Opal Street LLC do not oppose the motion. (See Doc. 55).
The public has a common-law right to access judicial proceedings, including the right to inspect and copy public records and court documents. See Chicago Trib. Co. v. Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc., 263 F. 3d 1304, 1311 (11th Cir. 2001). However, “[t]he common law right of access may be overcome by a showing of good cause, which requires balancing the asserted right of access against the other party's interest in keeping the information confidential." Romero v. Drummond Co., Inc., 480 F. 3d 1234, 1246 (11th Cir. 2007).
The CAR includes financial and business records and documents with personal identification information and addresses. Disclosure of this information is not authorized under statute and would harm legitimate privacy interests. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 5.2(a); 5 U.S.C. § 552a; see also Clark v. Unum Life Ins. Co. of Am., No. 14-CV-1037, 2014 WL 12609869, at *2 (M.D. Fla. Oct. 16, 2014) (finding sealing warranted because the administrative record contained personal and financial information about the plaintiff, as well as the private financial information of third parties). Thus, for the reasons the court initially granted the seal under Local Rule 1.11(e), there is good cause for the CAR to remain under seal. (See Doc. 41).
Accordingly, Homeland Security's motion to maintain the seal of the CAR (Doc. 54) is GRANTED. Absent a future order to the contrary, these documents will remain under seal indefinitely.
ORDERED in Tampa, Florida, on May 12, 2025.
Amanda Arnold Samone
AMANDA ARNOLD SANSONE
United States Magistrate Judge
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Citator
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Thompson v. U.S. Dep't of Homeland Sec., 2014 WL 12609869 (M.D. Fla. 2025)…fication information and addresses. Disclosure of this information is not authorized under statute and would harm legitimate privacy interests. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 5.2(a); 5 U.S.C. § 552a; see also Clark v. Unum Life Ins. Co. of Am., No. 14-CV-1037, 2014 WL 12609869, at *2 (M.D. Fla. Oct. 16, 2014) (finding sealing warranted because the administrative record contained personal and financial information about the plaintiff, as well as the private financial information of third parties). Thus, for the reasons the…1 / 2
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Thompson v. U.S. Dep't of Homeland Sec. (M.D. Fla. 2025)…fication information and addresses. Disclosure of this information is not authorized under statute and would harm legitimate privacy interests. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 5.2(a); 5 U.S.C. § 552a; see also Clark v. Unum Life Ins. Co. of Am., No. 14-CV-1037, 2014 WL 12609869, at *2 (M.D. Fla. Oct. 16, 2014) (finding sealing warranted because the administrative record contained personal and financial information about the plaintiff, as well as the private financial information of third parties). Thus, there is good cause…1 / 2
Authorities Cited
- Chicago Tribune Co. v. Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc., 263 F.3d 1304 (11th Cir. 2001)
- Thompson v. U.S. Dep't of Homeland Sec., 2014 WL 12609869 (M.D. Fla. 2025)