A federal judge in Massachusetts has blocked a job applicant’s attempt to remain anonymous in a class action lawsuit against Morgan Stanley, in which the financial giant is accused of illegally using protected criminal history information to discriminate against potential hires. The plaintiff, known as Jane Doe, sought to keep her identity hidden in the public court records, but the judge ruled against her efforts, citing legal precedent that bars pseudonyms after a plaintiff’s name has been publicly revealed.
Morgan Stanley Applicant Lawsuit: Court Denies Anonymous Motion
On Monday, U.S. District Judge Julia E. Kobick stood firm in her earlier decision, rejecting Jane Doe’s request to proceed anonymously. The plaintiff had already signed and submitted an affidavit with her real name to the public docket, a move that under the First Circuit’s 2022 ruling made it impossible for her to remain anonymous. In that decision, the court had made it clear: once a name is out, pseudonyms are off the table.
