The plaintiff, Jane Doe, instituted the present action seeking a Bill of Discovery from defendant Sacred Heart University (Sacred Heart), The national Chapter of Phi Sigma Sigma Fraternity, Inc., and The IOTA NU Chapter of the Phi Sigma Sigma Fraternity.
asserted
plaintiff → institute → Fraternity
The plaintiff's complaint alleges that in the Fall of 2025 she was involved in an incident with an underclassman during pledge week in which she was video recorded encouraging a Phi Sigma Sigma Fraternity pledge to drink alcohol (the hazing incident).
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she → allege → alcohol
The incident is detailed at paragraphs 11-15 of her complaint.
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incident → detail → complaint
The video was subsequently circulated around campus.
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video → circulate → campus
The plaintiff alleges that she became the subject of harassment and cyberbullying as a result of the publication of the hazing incident and that the defendants failed to conduct any meaningful investigation into her complaints.
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defendants → allege → complaints
The plaintiff also alleges that she became the subject of improper disciplinary hearings and was left with no choice but to withdraw from Sacred Heart.
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she → allege → Heart
The plaintiff seeks records related to the defendants' investigation into the hazing incident and the retaliation (which consisted of anonymous cyber bullying) which led to her "constructive expulsion" from the school.
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which → seek → school
The plaintiff further alleges that as a result of this retaliation, she began to suffer from severe anxiety and depression.
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she → allege → anxiety
The plaintiff seeks to proceed with her action for a Bill of Discovery by using a Pseudonym.
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plaintiff → seek → Pseudonym
The plaintiff's request to proceed using a Pseudonym was initially granted on an ex parte basis.
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request → proceed → basis
The defendants have objected to the plaintiff's continued use of a Pseudonym.
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defendants → object → Pseudonym
The plaintiff has responded that the continued use of the Pseudonym is necessary.
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use → respond → Pseudonym
The plaintiff has submitted affidavits in support of her claims detailing the harassment and threats she has received and the effects they have had on her physical and emotional health.
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they → submit → health
The standard for the granting of Pseudonym status can be found in Practice Book § 11–20A(h)(1) which provides in pertinent part: "Pseudonyms may be used in place of the name of a party or parties only with the prior approval of the judicial authority and only if the judicial authority concludes that such order is necessary to preserve an interest which is determined to override the public's interest in knowing the name of the party or parties.
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which → find → party
"The principle of openness of judicial proceedings includes the question of whether one may proceed anonymously therein, because the question of who is using the judicial system is ordinarily as much a part of that principle as why it is being used."
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it → include → principle
For this reason, our Supreme Court has stated that "[t]he privilege of using fictitious names in actions should be granted only in the rare case where the nature of the issue litigated and the interest of the parties demand it and no harm can be done to the public interest."
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harm → state → interest
This policy of openness is not to be abridged lightly.
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policy → abridge → openness
"The ultimate test for permitting a [party] to proceed anonymously is whether the [party] has a substantial privacy right which outweighs the customary and constitutionally-embedded presumption of openness in judicial proceedings."
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which → permit → proceedings
"A [party's] desire to avoid economic and social harm as well as embarrassment and humiliation in his professional and social community is normally insufficient to permit him to appear without disclosing his identity."
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desire → avoid → identity
"The most compelling situations [for granting a motion to proceed anonymously] involve matters which are highly sensitive, such as social stigmatization, real danger of physical harm, or where the injury litigated against would occur as a result of the disclosure of the [party's] identity….
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injury → grant → identity
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The court has reviewed the affidavits submitted by the plaintiff associated with her treatment and is aware of the scope of her alleged harm and fears.
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court → review → harm
However, what the court must determine here is the appropriateness of shielding the identity of someone who has victimized another.
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who → determine → another
A review of the relevant caselaw concerning applications for the use of Pseudonym status does not reveal any cases where an initial wrongdoer was allowed to proceed with a Pseudonym because of alleged harm incurred in retaliation for their wrongdoing.
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wrongdoer → concern → wrongdoing
The court has determined that after balancing the interests of the parties in this matter, the plaintiff's personal privacy interests do not outweigh the public's interest in the continued openness of these judicial proceedings.
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interests → determine → proceedings
The defendants' objection to the continued use of a Pseudonym is therefore sustained.
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objection → continue → Pseudonym
James M. Sconzo and Marc G. Bernatchez (Carlton Fields, P.C.) represent the University.
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Sconzo → represent → University
The Aporia
