Rule 3-18 Sensitive Information

(a) In accord with OCGA § 9-11-7.1 and to promote public electronic access to court records while also protecting sensitive information, unless otherwise ordered by the Court, all documents filed in the Court shall include only the following when listing certain sensitive information:

(1) The last four digits of a social security number.

(2) The last four digits of a taxpayer identification number.

(3) The last four digits of a financial account number.

(4) The year of an individual's birth.

(b) Counsel and the parties shall also limit, if possible, public disclosure of non-public residential addresses, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses belonging to another party, a witness, or a potential witness.

(c) The responsibility for omitting or redacting personal identifiers rests solely with counsel and the parties. The Clerk will not review filings for compliance with this rule.

(d) A party having a legitimate need for sensitive information may obtain it through the ordinary course of discovery, in accordance with Article 5 of the Civil Practice Act, without further order of the Court.

(e) This rule shall not create a private right of action against the Business Court, the Clerk, counsel for any party, or any other individual or entity that may have erroneously included sensitive identifying information in a filed document that is made available electronically or otherwise.

(f) This rule shall not amend or modify any requirements in Article 15 (Access to Court Records) of these rules.