Kelli L. Sager

Screenwriters, broadcasters, film producers and media companies call Sager for counsel in high-stakes litigation matters.

She was lead counsel for the Los Angeles Times Communications LLC, Bloomberg LLC, and the Associated Press to unseal a video in court records that was part of a civil lawsuit against the city of Gardena. The video showed police shooting two people - one a teenager was killed. The surviving victim and the decedent's family sued the city and police officials. The public didn't have access to the video even after the case settled.

"There was a protective order in the case that prevented the plaintiffs from releasing the video," Sager said. "The fact that the case settled didn't preclude the court from releasing it."

Sager argued her clients had the First Amendment right to access court records. A U.S. judge granted the motion. Soon afterward, the LA Times published the video on its website.

The city appealed the district court's ruling to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The panel ruled that the appeal was moot, dismissing it and affirming the lower court's ruling earlier this year. Mendez v. City of Gardena, 15-56090 (9th Cir., filed July 14, 2015).

"The public's interest in this case was undeniable," Sager said. "Police are the only government officials who have the ability to exercise lethal force."

The Motion Picture Association of America or MPAA called Sager as its representative in a case involving the movie, "The Hurt Locker." The plaintiff claimed the film was based on his life story. The MPAA was not directly involved in the case but it issued a brief in support of the defendants. Jordan-Benel v. Universal City Studios Inc. et al, 15-56045 (9th Cir., filed July 7, 2015). The 9th Circuit upheld a district court's order dismissing the case, citing the reasoning from the amici brief on First Amendment issues.

"The [MPAA] doesn't weigh in every case but when a case really would impact the industry, they will often file friend of the court briefs to weigh in and present their point of view," Sager said.

— Melanie Brisbon