There are several reasons why a person filing a lawsuit may want to use a pseudonym. But when is a person permitted to do so?
This issue arose in Smith v. Kappa Kappa Gamma Fraternity. Seven young women sued their sorority after it allowed male who identified as female to become a member. They wished to proceed as plaintiffs under assumed names.
The federal judge disagreed and required the plaintiffs to proceed under their own names.
I cannot summarize the Court’s holding any better than the summary prepared by the Simple Justice blog – I urge you to read it if you have any interest in this issue. That said, I think the conclusion by the author (“Must they wait until one of the plaintiffs is shot before Judge Johnson will find merit in their need for psudeonymity?”) over the top.
An amended complaint has been filed by six of the plaintiffs. Apparently, one chose not to file in her own name.