MEMORANDUM DECISION AND ORDER “It is clear that the courts of this country recognize a general right to inspect and copy public records and documents, including judicial records and documents. In contrast to the English practice,…American decisions generally do not condition enforcement of this right on a proprietary interest in the document or upon a need for it as evidence in a lawsuit.”1 This action, commenced on February 17, 2021, arises out of allegations of fraudulent inducement, fraud, breach of contract, and unjust enrichment. The parties appeared for two settlement conferences before the undersigned and successfully achieved an agreement to resolve the matter in its entirety. (Electronic Order dated Nov. 16, 2021; Electronic Order dated Dec. 16, 2021.) Before the Court is Defendants’ unopposed motion “to seal the entire record of this case.” (DE 35 and 362.) For the reasons that follow, the motion to seal is denied. FACTUAL BACKGROUND The circumstances giving rise to Plaintiff’s claims are an unfortunate series of events that arose out of a single tragic accident. Defendant Timothy Coffey is the owner, founder and president of Defendant Coffey Nursery/Landscape (“Coffey Landscape”) and Defendant Ann Amiaga is Coffey Landscape’s office manager. (DE 1; DE 15.) Defendant Isaac Orellana was performing tree trimming and tree removal services for Coffey Landscape when a branch fell on him, causing paralysis of his lower extremities. (DE 1.) Plaintiff alleges that leading up to and including the date of the accident, Defendants had not disclosed Defendant Orellana as an employee in the weekly payroll reports submitted to Plaintiff, nor did Defendants pay premiums for Defendant Orellana. (Id.) Plaintiff further alleges that a week after the accident, Defendants submitted a payroll report stating that Defendant Orellana was hired two days before the accident, when in reality he had been working for the company for 25 years and was paid in cash. (Id.) Based on this alleged materially false representation, Defendants submitted a claim to Plaintiff for workers’ compensation insurance coverage for the accident. (Id.) Plaintiff also asserts that in order to escape paying a higher premium, Defendants did not disclose that Coffey Landscaping performed tree removal services in addition to landscaping services. (Id.) Issue was joined by Defendants’ answer, which denies all material allegations of the complaint and asserts thirteen affirmative defenses. (DE 15.) On June 24, 2021, the Hon. Joanna Seybert held a status conference, at which time she set a briefing schedule on Plaintiff’s anticipated motion to strike certain defenses (DE 16) and “directed [the parties] to confer and discuss the potential of settling this matter short of trial. If the parties agree that settlement negotiations will not be fruitful, plaintiff may proceed with their motion based upon the above briefing schedule.” (DE 27.) A settlement conference was thereafter scheduled before the undersigned. (DE 33.) The court held two confidential settlement conferences before depositions were held. (Electronic Order dated Nov. 16, 2021; Electronic Order dated Dec. 16, 2021), and the case successfully settled on December 16, 2021. Now, almost a year after the action was commenced, Defendants move “to seal the entire record of this case.” (DE 36.) Plaintiff has taken no position on this application. Notwithstanding that the motion is uncontested, the court is obligated to consider whether public access to the court records should be denied. See Bernstein v. Bernstein Litowitz Berger & Grossman LLP, 814 F.3d 132, 136 (2d. Cir. 2016) (affirming district court’s denial of motion to seal after applying balancing test for the common-law right of access, despite parties’ joint application for sealing). Notably, the public docket does not include any discovery exchanged between the parties, and the parties entered into a stipulation and order of confidentiality “so ordered” by the court that governed their discovery disclosures. (DE 26.) Aside from general scheduling Orders and conference dates, the substantive docket consists of pleadings: Plaintiff’s Complaint (DE 1), Defendants’ Answer (DE 15), Plaintiff’s motion to strike affirmative defenses (DE 16), and Defendants’ opposition (DE 17). The only document attached to any of those items is a copy of the subject workers’ compensation policy. (DE 1-1.) There are no medical or personal records contained within any of the subject documents. Defendants argue that the Complaint and other records filed contain personal and sensitive information including confidential business practices, medical information, statements regarding Defendants’ character and integrity, financial information that would affect Defendant Coffey’s credit, and statements about business practices that would impair the business’s survival. See Jack S. Dweck Decl.
