The electronic filings on the Business Court website are public records, which the public has the right to inspect.  The Court’s power to place filings under seal, or to limit the public’s right of access, is permitted “when there is a compelling countervailing public interest and closure of the court proceedings or sealing of documents is required to protect such countervailing public interest.” (citing Virmani v. Presbyterian Health Servs., 350 N.C. 449, 476,515 S.E.2d 675, 693 (1999).  There is no distinction between a record available online at the Court’s website or one available in a paper file at a county courthouse.

Full Opinion