California Ex Rel. Lockyer v. Safeway, Inc.
Opinion
Opinion
King, J.
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER RE: 1) PLAINTIFF’S MOTION TO UNSEAL COURT RECORDS, AND 2) LOS ANGELES TIMES’ MOTION TO UNSEAL COURT RECORDS
I
INTRODUCTION
This matter is before us on the motions of Plaintiff, the State of California (“State”), and Intervenor, the Los Angeles Times {“LAT”), to unseal court records relating to a pending motion for summary judgment. We have fully considered the parties’ briefing on these motions and their oral argument. By this order, we now decide these motions.
II
BACKGROUND
This case arises from the grocery store labor strike that took place in Southern California from late 2003 to early 2004. The strike involved three major supermarket chains in the region and persisted for 141 days. The labor dispute was a ubiquitous feature of the news while it was ongoing, and it purportedly disrupted the daily routines of millions of Southern California residents because it involved hundreds of stores.
On February 2, 2004, Attorney General Bill Lockyer, on behalf of the State, filed a complaint alleging that Defendants Safeway, Inc., d.b.a. Vons, Albertson’s, Inc., Ralphs Grocery Company, and Food 4 Less Food Company (collectively, “the Employers” or “the…