Cumpian v. Awopetu et al

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE
WESTERN DISTRICT OF OKLAHOMA
ROBERT JOSEPH CUMPIAN, )
)
Plaintiff, )
)
v. ) Case No. CIV-25-985-G
)
JESSICA GIBBY et al., )
)
Defendants. )
ORDER
On August 29, 2025, Plaintiff Robert Joseph Cumpian initiated this civil action,
naming multiple defendants and alleging that, in an action in an Oklahoma state court, his
children had been wrongfully removed from his custody. See Compl. (Doc. No. 1) at 2-5.
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 5.2 prescribes how parties are to present certain
categories of personally identifiable information, including social security numbers, dates
of birth, and the names of minors, in documents and exhibits filed with the Court. See Fed.
R. Civ. P. 5.2(a). A party filing a document that includes these types of identifying
information is required to redact the filing in accordance with the Rule. See id. R. 5.2(a)(1)-
(4). Alternatively, an unredacted copy of the document may be filed under seal. See id. R.
5.2(d). The Court’s local rule prescribes that “[l]eave of court is required to file a document
or portion of a document under seal” and that leave of court “shall be requested by filing a
motion” requesting permission to file the document under seal. LCvR 5.2.2; see also Gen.
Order No. 25-5 (W.D. Okla.) at 1 & n.1.
The record reflects that certain exhibits to the Complaint contain information for
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which redaction is required by Rule 5.2(a). These exhibits have been partially, but not
effectively, redacted, and Plaintiff did not request to file these documents under seal.
Because the following documents contain unredacted information other than Plaintiff’s
own, good cause exists to seal the documents from public view.
The Court DIRECTS the Clerk of Court to place the following documents under
seal: Exhibits 2, 3, 4, and 5 to the Complaint (Doc. Nos. 1-2, 1-3, 1-4, 1-5) and Plaintiff’s
Application to Proceed in Forma Pauperis (Doc. No. 2).
Plaintiff is ADVISED that all other documents filed in this case are currently
accessible on the public docket. Plaintiff is further ADVISED that he may request to have
case filings placed under seal by filing a written motion with the Court.
IT IS ORDERED that, for any future filings containing personally identifiable
information, Plaintiff must either properly redact the information or seek leave to file the
document under seal in accordance with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and this
Court’s Local Civil Rules and General Orders. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 5.2(a); LCvR 5.2.2;
Gen. Order No. 25-5; see also Garrett v. Shelby Connor Maddux & Janer, 425 F.3d 836,
840 (10th Cir. 2005).
IT IS SO ORDERED this 10th day of September, 2025.
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