Motion to Seal Declaration in Support of Good Faith Settlement
24CV015937: MOORE, et al. vs COVENANT CARE LODI, LLC, A CALIFORNIA LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY DBA ARBOR REHABILITATION AND NURSING CENTER, et al. 07/28/2026 Hearing on Motion to Seal Declaration in Support of Good Faith Settlement in Department 16D
Tentative Ruling
NOTICE: Consistent with Local Rule 1.06(B), any party requesting oral argument on any matter on this calendar must comply with the following procedure: To request limited oral argument, on any matter on this calendar, you must call the Department 16D Oral Argument Request Line at (916) 874-3056 by 4:00 p.m. the court day before the hearing and advise opposing counsel. At the time of requesting oral argument, the requesting party shall leave a voice mail message (a) identifying themselves as the party requesting oral argument; (b) indicating the specific matter/motion for which they are requesting oral argument; and (c) confirming that it has notified the opposing party of its intention to appear and that opposing party may appear via Zoom using the Zoom link and Meeting ID indicated below.
If no request for oral argument is made, the tentative ruling becomes the final order of the Court. Unless ordered to appear in person by the Court, parties may appear remotely either telephonically or by video conference via the Zoom video/audio conference platform with notice to the Court and all other parties in accordance with Code of Civil Procedure §367.75. Although remote participation is not required, the Court will presume all parties are appearing remotely for non-evidentiary civil hearings.
The Department 16D Zoom Link is https://saccourt-ca-gov.zoomgov.com/j/16146506749 and the Zoom Meeting ID is 161 4650 6749. To appear on Zoom telephonically, call (833) 568-8864 and enter the Zoom Meeting ID referenced above. NO COURTCALL APPEARANCES WILL BE ACCEPTED. Parties requesting services of a court reporter will need to arrange for private court reporter services at their own expense, pursuant to Government code §68086 and California Rules of Court, Rule 2.956. Requirements for requesting a court reporter are listed on the Court Reporter Services webpage available on the Sacramento Superior Court website at https://saccourt.ca.gov/general-information/court-reporter-services-transcripts.
Looking for case law or statutes not cited here? Search published authorities
Examples: “Why did the court rule this way?” · “What were the procedural grounds?” · “Is appearance required?”
Parties may contact Court- Approved Official Reporters Pro Tempore by utilizing the list of Court Approved Official Reporters Pro Tempore available at https://saccourt.ca.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/227/639084034465370000. A Stipulation and Appointment of Official Reporter Pro Tempore (CV/E-206) is required to be signed by each party, the private court reporter, and the Judge prior to the hearing, if not using a reporter from the Courts Approved Official Reporter Pro Tempore list. Once the form is signed it must be filed with the clerk.
If a litigant has been granted a fee waiver and requests a court reporter, the party must submit a Request for Court Reporter by a Party with a Fee Waiver (CV/E-211) and it must be filed with the clerk at least 10 days prior to the hearing or at the time the proceeding is scheduled if less than 10 days away. Once approved, the clerk will forward the form to the Court Reporters Office and an official reporter will be provided.
24CV015937: MOORE, et al. vs COVENANT CARE LODI, LLC, A CALIFORNIA LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY DBA ARBOR REHABILITATION AND NURSING CENTER, et al. 07/28/2026 Hearing on Motion to Seal Declaration in Support of Good Faith Settlement in Department 16D
*** NOTICE: EFFECTIVE APRIL 13, 2026, THIS DEPARTMENT HAS MOVED TO THE TANI G. CANTIL-SAKAUYE COURTHOUSE LOCATED AT 500 G STREET IN SACRAMENTO, CA. ALL MOTIONS NOTICED FOR DEPARTMENT 53 WILL BE HEARD IN DEPARTMENT 16D OF THE NEW COURTHOUSE. ALL PAPERS FOR THIS DEPARTMENT MUST BE FILED AT THIS NEW LOCATION AND WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED AT THE HALL OF JUSTICE. ALL HEARINGS WILL TAKE PLACE AT THIS NEW LOCATION. PARTIES MAY CONTINUE TO APPEAR REMOTELY IN DEPARTMENT 16D UNLESS SPECIFICALLY ORDERED OTHERWISE. ***
TENTATIVE RULING
Defendants Covenant Care Lodi, LLC, et al.s motion to seal the unredacted version of the Declaration of Faith Wolinsky (filed in redacted form on 5/21/2026) in support of their concurrent motion for determination of good faith of their settlement with plaintiffs is UNOPPOSED and is GRANTED.
Unless confidentiality is required by law, court records are presumed to be open. (CRC Rule 2.550(c).) However, the Court may order that a record be filed under seal if it expressly finds facts that establish that there is an overriding interest to support the sealing of these records; there is a substantial probability that the parties interests will be prejudiced absent sealing; the proposed sealing is narrowly tailored to serve the parties interests; and there is no less restrictive means of achieving the overriding interest. (CRC Rule 2.550(d); see also, In re Providian Credit Card Cases (2002) 96 Cal.App.4th 292.)
Moving defendants seek to permanently seal the unredacted version of the Declaration of Faith Wolinsky (filed in redacted form on 5/21/2026) in support of their concurrent motion for determination of good faith of their settlement with plaintiffs so as to prevent the public disclosure of only certain specific terms and conditions of their settlement with plaintiffs, including the amount of such settlement. As such, the proposed sealing is narrowly tailored to only that information which is claimed to be private and sensitive in nature.
Therefore, coupled with the fact that no party has filed any opposition or other written objection to the present motion and that this is construed as a concession on the merits of this motion to seal (see, e.g., D.I. Chadbourne, Inc. v. Superior Court (1964) 60 Cal.2d 723, 728, n.4), this Court finds that moving defendants have shown the existence of an overriding interest in preventing the public disclosure of certain specific terms and conditions of their settlement with plaintiffs, including the amount of such settlement and the absence of any less restrictive means of preserving moving
SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF SACRAMENTO
24CV015937: MOORE, et al. vs COVENANT CARE LODI, LLC, A CALIFORNIA LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY DBA ARBOR REHABILITATION AND NURSING CENTER, et al. 07/28/2026 Hearing on Motion to Seal Declaration in Support of Good Faith Settlement in Department 16D
defendants interest in retaining confidentiality of these specific terms and conditions of their settlement with plaintiffs.
The Clerk is directed to file (backdated to 5/21/2026) the unredacted version of the Declaration of Faith Wolinsky filed in support of moving defendants concurrent motion for determination of good faith of their settlement with plaintiffs and to immediately set the security clearance so that this declaration may not hereafter be viewed or accessed by the public without court order.
Pursuant to CRC Rule 3.1312, moving defendants to submit a revised proposed order (clearly identifying the declaration to be filed under seal and also reflecting the advanced hearing date) for the Courts consideration.
Moving parties to provide notice of this ruling and file proof of service of same within five (5) court days.
This minute order is effective immediately. No formal order or other notice is required. (Code Civ. Proc. §1019.5; CRC Rule 3.1312.)