AJC, WSB-TV challenge sealed docs in Paula Deen litigation | savannahnow.com

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and an Atlanta television station have asked a federal judge to unseal filings and a video-taped deposition of Savannah celebrity chef Paula Deen in the ongoing litigation filed by a former Deen employee.

The motion, filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court at Savannah by attorneys for both the Cox Enterprises-owned newspaper and WSB-TV, contends that beginning July 3 the court has sealed a series of documents, “as well as certain ‘secret’ docket entries,” blocking public access to them.

Included in those are actions by the clerk who allegedly has “refused requests to allow copying” of a videotaped deposition of defendant Paula Deen “citing ‘judicial policy’ and protection of court reporters,” the motion states.

The motion also complains that “certain additional records have been retroactively sealed and some even removed from the docket.”

The motion contends that parties in the litigation cannot show “interest in confidentiality significantly outweighing the pubic right to access” and urged the judge to unseal the pleading and to allow copying of Deen’s deposition.

via AJC, WSB-TV challenge sealed docs in Paula Deen litigation | savannahnow.com.