Official Procedure Last Change June 14, 2021

Motion for Protective Order

General Information

This event is used primarily for the purpose of limiting or restricting discovery. It may also be used to hide a document from public view pursuant to 11 U.S.C. Section 107 if the document contains, for instance, trade secrets or defamatory information. To remove a document from public view because it contains personal identifiers, the Motion to Redact Previously Filed Document event should be used instead.

If a Motion for Protective Order that relates to a document previously entered on the docket is granted, the Court will restrict access to the document named in the Motion, although the associated docket entry will remain visible to all users. The filer of the document to be hidden will need to file an amended version of that document with the personal identifiers removed.

Filing requirements

• The Motion must be signed by the filing party.
• A certificate of service must be included.
• A proposed order must be uploaded, which should not contain signatures of counsel.
• If wishing to file a motion for protective order on a closed case, it is not necessary to file a motion to reopen, or to pay a reopening fee. The motion will be processed by the court even though the case is closed.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Log into CM/ECF.

2. Select Bankruptcy > Motions, Applications & Briefs.

3. Enter case number (in the format xx-xxxxx) and click Next.

4. Select Protective Order, Motion for from the event list and click Next.

5. Select appropriate radio button to indicate whether or not the Motion you are filing is amended.

6. Check box if jointly filing with another attorney. Click Next.

7. If you indicated that you are filing jointly with other attorney(s), select additional attorney(s) and click Next.

Note: You cannot add attorneys. Only attorneys who have previously entered an appearance will be available for selection.

8. Select the party filer. If the party is not listed, or cannot be selected, view instructions on adding a new party. Click Next.

Note: The "Attorney/Party Association” screen may appear. If your party selection was correct, check the box to create an association and click Next.

9. A message is displayed regarding use of the correct event. Click Next.

10. Browse to attach the document to be filed (pdf file). Click Next.

11. Select appropriate radio button and click Next.

• If you selected Yes (to indicate that you are seeking to hide a claim), a list of all claims filed on the case is displayed. Click on the claim that you are seeking to hide, then click on the Next button at the bottom of the page (you may need to scroll down to see this button). Note: If you have already filed an amended claim, this is the claim that will appear in the list. Select that amended claim - when the Court removes the document, they will ensure that the original claim, not the amended claim, is removed.
• If you selected No (to indicate that you are seeking to hide any other type of document), you are asked under which rule/code section you are filing. Select the appropriate radio button, then click Next. Check the box next to the document which your Motion seeks to hide and click Next.

12. If you indicated in step 5 that you are filing an amended motion, all pending motions on the docket are displayed. Select the motion that is being amended and click Next.

13. Select prefix text, if applicable, and click Next.

Note: The prefix text option is not available if you indicated in Step 5 that the Motion you are filing is amended.

14. Verify final docket text. If correct, click Next to submit.

Note: The Notice of Electronic Filing displays giving you the document number. Copies of this notice are immediately e-mailed to all participants who receive electronic notification in the case.