By Heart of Illinois ABC
TAZEWELL COUNTY – A Tazewell County judge has loosened a protective order in a lawsuit brought against Reditus Labs CEO Aaron Rossi.
Judge Chris Doscotch ruled in favor of local media organizations, who intervened in the case in order to get the public access to some of the court documents under seal.
Media organizations have already reported on the documents not under seal, which include allegations against Rossi from ousted business partners of lavish spending and improper business practices.
“For records that are filed, there’s a presumption they are public,” Doscotch said. “It’s important for First Amendment rights.”
The public will now have access to “pleadings and attachments” in the case, but the status of a hotly contested “Second Amendment Complaint” is still up in the air. The order will not include access to discovery in the case.
In the future, parties will have to file a motion in order to file a document under seal, which would then be ruled on by the judge.
The protective order was entered years ago, long before the case came to light after Rossi’s federal tax fraud indictment.
The case will next head to court for a status hearing Friday, but no contested issues will be discussed.
Heart of Illinois ABC can be reached at News@WJBC.com.
