PORTLAND, Ore. — A federal judge has ordered an Oregon newspaper not to publish documents it obtained related to a sex discrimination lawsuit against sports giant Nike.
The Oregonian/OregonLive reported that an attorney representing the plaintiffs in the case sent the documents to one of his reporters on Jan. 19 and then requested them. When the news channel refused, the lawyer filed a petition with the court asking for its return.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Jolie Russo granted the motion Friday and ordered the news station to return the documents.
“The Court is aware that certain documents marked ‘Confidential’ and ‘Attorney’s Eyes Only’ were inadvertently disclosed to the Oregonian by plaintiff’s counsel via email,” Russo wrote, ordering the publisher to return the documents and “agree not to do that.” disseminate this information in any way; and to destroy all copies in his possession.”
Russo said the documents are covered by the case’s protective order, which withholds certain content from the public.
Oregonian/OregonLive said it planned to appeal.
“Preliminary government restraint goes against every principle of a free press in this country,” said Editor and Vice President of Content Therese Bottomly. “This is highly unusual and we will defend our First Amendment rights in court.”
Neither the lawyer nor Nike immediately responded to requests for comment from The Associated Press.
The sex discrimination suit, filed in 2018, alleges that Nike’s workplace is hostile to women and that the Oregon-based company underpays female employees.
Oregonian/OregonLive said it had previously intervened in the lawsuit as part of a media coalition that asked the court to unseat certain legal documents.
The news company said it was working on a separate article based on independent reporting when it received the documents.