The background of this lawsuit (Cause No. 2012-46745 in Harris County, TX) was as follows:

"Eric Torres purchased shares in Atlas using funds surreptitiously loaned to him by Adam Sinn. Sinn is a trader and Torres a broker. Sinn and Torres knew that this transaction created a conflict, so Torres lied to Taylor about the source of the funds. When Taylor found out, all parties sued each other. That suit ended when Taylor agreed to buy Torres’ shares back at a steeply discounted price. The parties entered into a settlement agreement (the “Agreement”), Taylor began making payments, Torres returned his shares, and the case was dismissed."

After settlement, the case records were sealed; no doubt with the intention to hide from the public the various actions by Eric Torres and Adam Sinn.  While occasionally there are compelling reasons for keeping court case records confidential, “sealing of judicial records is not considered appropriate if it is done merely to protect parties from embarrassment”; Siedle, 147 F.3d at 10; Kamakana v. City and County of Honolulu, 447 F.3d 1172, 1178–79 (9th Cir. 2006).  The Pocket Guide below explains the limited circumstances when sealing of this case would actually be appropriate.

In his subsequent lawsuit against Atlas Commodities (Cause No. 2014-40964 in Harris County, TX), their questionable behavior leading to the original lawsuit and additional prevarication was described in various court filings.  Not surprisingly, Adam Sinn again attempted to seal the records after reaching a settlement.  Believing there was no valid reason to permit sealing of the records, Patrick de Man, as an observant and concerned member of the public, intervened.  At the public hearing, the judge agreed with the intervenor and denied the Motion to Seal.