Barfield v. Doe
A non-party petitioned for certiorari to quash a county court order sealing the names of the parties in a dismissed eviction action under Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.420(c)(9)(A)(vi). The Fourth District granted the petition and quashed the order, holding that litigants' names are matters inherent to a civil proceeding and cannot be shielded from public view based on privacy or reputational concerns.
Key facts
- Non-party petitioner sought certiorari to quash a county court order that sealed the names of parties in a dismissed eviction action.
- The trial court granted the parties' joint motion to seal the case under Florida Rule of General Practice & Judicial Administration 2.420(c)(9)(A)(vi), based on concerns about reputational harm and credit damage to the tenants.
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Why it matters
This decision gives practitioners and members of the press a clear statement that party names cannot be sealed under Rule 2.420(c)(9)(A)(vi), even in dismissed eviction cases where the tenants fear reputational or… — full analysis with a trial
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