Brian France drops request to seal documents in suit against ex-wife

Brian France

NASCAR Chairman Brian France has withdrawn his request to have all the documents sealed in a federal lawsuit against his ex-wife accusing her of taping his telephone calls to extort money from him. France did not give a reason in his one-page notice to withdraw his request to keep the documents secret. The notice came about a week after Megan France responded to her ex-husband's request to seal the documents.

"Megan P. France does not agree that such a draconian step is necessary to protect the legitimate privacy concerns of her, her children and her ex-husband," Megan France's attorneys said in their response to the motion to seal. Megan France's attorneys, however, said their client agrees that documents referring to the Frances' separation agreement should be placed under seal. That agreement involves the Frances' property settlement as well as the terms of child support, child custody and alimony.

"Ms. France reserves the right to move to seal other pleadings in this case, on a pleading-by-pleading basis, if she determines that such a step is necessary to protect her privacy or that of her children," her attorneys wrote. The Charlotte Observer has filed a motion opposed to sealing of the documents in the federal lawsuit.(full story at Charlotte Observer)