DISTRICT COURT OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
DIVISION OF ST. CROIX
5
YOLANDA ADAMS,
5
5
Plaintiff,
5
2004-CV-0053
v.
5
5
FORD MOTOR CO.,
5
5
Defendant. 5
____________________________________5
TO:
Vincent A. Colianni, Esq.
Thomas Alkon, Esq.
Daryl C. Barnes, Esq.
ORDER
THIS MATTER came before the Court upon counsel for Plaintiff’s telephone contact
with the undersigned directing the Court to place the order (Docket No. 302), entered May
27, 2008, under seal.  The undersigned advised said counsel that any such request should
be submitted in writing in the form of a motion.  Thereafter, said counsel filed a Motion to
Seal Order (Docket No. 303).  Counsel for Defendant filed an opposition to said motion.
A hearing was held May 29, 2008.  Thomas Alkon, Esq., represented Plaintiff and counsel
for Plaintiff; and Daryl C. Barnes, Esq., appeared on behalf of Defendant.  Vincent A.
Colianni, Sr., Esq., also was present.
Case: 1:04-cv-00053-RLF-GWC   Document #: 309   Filed: 05/29/08   Page 1 of 3
Adams v. Ford Motor Co.
2004-CV-0053
Order
Page 2
Having reviewed the motion and opposition and heard the arguments of counsel,
the Court finds that nothing therein persuades the Court that sealing the order at issue is
required.  While counsel for Plaintiff points to the fact that the correspondence from the
juror that was the catalyst for the order at issue was placed under seal by the Court, such
action was taken to protect the juror.  Such protection is required where jurors are members
of the community fulfilling a civic duty and may be called on again to so act.
Although counsel for Plaintiff maintains that sealing the said order is similarly
warranted to protect the attorney’s reputation, the Court finds that nothing in the said
order negatively affects said attorney’s reputation.  Even if the order arguably could be
read to affect said attorney’s reputation, the Court finds that the instructive value of the
order to the general membership of the bar is an overriding interest.  Moreover, no other
document or proceeding associated with this juror-contact issue has been sealed or asked
by said counsel to be sealed.  This fact further supports the Court’s finding that sealing of
the order is unnecessary.
Accordingly, it is now hereby ORDERED that counsel for Plaintiff’s Motion to Seal
Order (Docket No. 303) is DENIED.
Case: 1:04-cv-00053-RLF-GWC   Document #: 309   Filed: 05/29/08   Page 2 of 3
Adams v. Ford Motor Co.
2004-CV-0053
Order
Page 3
ENTER:
Dated: May 29, 2008
                                /s/                                   
GEORGE W. CANNON, JR.                      
U.S. MAGISTRATE JUDGE
Case: 1:04-cv-00053-RLF-GWC   Document #: 309   Filed: 05/29/08   Page 3 of 3