Reyna v. 23andMe - TRO Denied; Genomic Data Breach Allegations Rejected

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Jan. 21, 2026 Get Citation Alerts Download PDF Add Note

Joseph Anthony Reyna, et al. v. 23andMe, Inc., et al.

District Court, N.D. California

• Citations: None known
• Docket Number: 3:26-cv-00464

• Precedential Status: Unknown Status

• Opinion

• Authorities (2)

• Cited By (0)

• Summaries (0)

• Similar Cases (76)

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Trial Court Document

1
2
3
4 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
5 NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
6
7 JOSEPH ANTHONY REYNA, et al., Case No. 26-cv-00464-EMC

8 Plaintiffs,
ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFFS’
9 v. MOTION FOR TEMPORARY
RESTRAINING ORDER
10 23ANDME, INC., et al.,
11 Defendants. Docket Nos. 4, 7, 8-10

12
13
14 Plaintiffs Joseph Anthony Reyna and C.R., proceeding pro se, have filed suit against
15 Defendants 23andMe, Inc. and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. In their complaint, Plaintiffs
16 allege that their private genomic data has been or is at risk of being exposed because of a data
17 breach suffered by 23andMe in October 2023. See Compl. ¶ 17. Plaintiffs indicate that
18 Regeneron is also liable because it is the “successor-in-interest to genomic assets derived from
19 23andMe datasets.” Compl. ¶ 14. Now pending before the Court are a number of motions filed
20 by Plaintiffs, including but not limited to a motion for a temporary restraining order (“TRO”).
21 The Court’s rulings on each of the motions is provided below.
22 I. DISCUSSION
23 A. Motion for TRO and Preliminary Injunction (Docket No. 7)
24 In their motion for a TRO and/or preliminary injunction, Plaintiffs primarily seek an order
25 enjoining Defendants from selling, transferring, or otherwise commercializing “Plaintiffs’ inferred
26 genomic profiles or derivative models attributable to Plaintiffs.” Mot. at 5. The motion is
27 DENIED for several reasons.
1 litigation against it would be subject to a stay. See 11 U.S.C. § 362. While Regeneron is not itself
2 in bankruptcy, § 362 states that the automatic bankruptcy stay extends to “any act to obtain
3 possession of property of the estate or of property from the estate or to exercise control over
4 property of the estate,” id. § 362(a)(3), and Regeneron has an interest in the property of the estate
5 as the alleged acquirer of 23andMe’s assets. Even if not entitled to the benefit of the automatic
6 stay, Regeneron’s interest would counsel in favor of a discretionary stay of the proceedings in the
7 case at bar.
8 Second, Plaintiffs do not appear to have given notice of this motion to either Defendant,
9 nor have they explained why they could not give Defendants such notice. The Court
10 acknowledges that Plaintiffs will soon be filing applications to proceed in forma pauperis (“IFP”).
11 If the Court grants Mr. Reyna’s renewed application and C.R.’s separate application, then the U.S.
12 Marshals Office will serve the complaint on Defendants. However, that prospect does not relieve
13 Plaintiffs of the responsibility to give notice of the motion for a TRO to Defendants.
14 Third, even if the Court were to put the issue of notice aside, Plaintiffs have failed to show
15 that they are likely to suffer irreparable injury (i.e., without issuance of a TRO or preliminary
16 injunction). See Winter v. NRDC, Inc., 555 U.S. 7, 20 (2008) (stating that “[a] plaintiff seeking a
17 preliminary injunction must establish that he is likely to succeed on the merits, that he is likely to
18 suffer irreparable harm in the absence of preliminary relief, that the balance of equities tips in his
19 favor, and that an injunction is in the public interest”). Plaintiffs have submitted no evidence
20 indicating that their personal information will or will likely be sold, transferred, or
21 commercialized.
22 Finally, Plaintiffs have failed to show a likelihood of success on the merits, or even serious
23 questions on the merits. See Alliance For The Wild Rockies v. Cottrell, 632 F.3d 1127, 1132 (9th
24 Cir. 2011) (holding that, in the Ninth Circuit, “‘serious questions going to the merits’ and a
25 hardship balance that tips sharply toward the plaintiff can support issuance of an injunction,
26 assuming the other two elements of the Winter test are also met”). Plaintiffs expressly state in
27 their complaint that they are not customers of 23andMe. See Compl. ¶ 16 (alleging that Plaintiffs
1 23andMe had any personal information belonging to Plaintiffs in its possession, custody, or
2 control. Plaintiffs seem to suggest that 23andMe obtained personal information about them
3 because “[a] close relative submitted a saliva kit to 23andMe using default ‘DNA Relatives’
4 settings.” Compl. ¶ 15; see also Compl. ¶ 16 (“Through identity-by-descent and kinship inference
5 algorithms, Defendants generated relationship graphs and shared-DNA metrics mathematically
6 revealing approximately 50% of Plaintiffs’ SNPs, despite Plaintiffs having no account or contract
7 with 23andMe.”) (emphasis omitted). But Plaintiffs have not made any allegations, let alone
8 provided any evidence, that the DNA Relatives service or feature could reveal any information
9 about them simply because their relative was a customer of 23andMe.
10 Accordingly, the Court denies Plaintiffs’ motion for a TRO. Their request for a
11 preliminary injunction is likewise denied, but without prejudice.
12 B. Motion for Preservation Order (Docket No. 4)
13 Plaintiffs also move the Court for entry of a preservation order. See Mot. at 3 (arguing
14 that, “[a]bsent court-ordered preservation, relevant information may be irreversibly altered or lost
15 through routine business activity”). The motion is DENIED without prejudice. Since Defendants
16 have not yet been served or otherwise made an appearance, the issuance of an order is essentially
17 premature. There is also no evidence that, even if Defendants have already anticipated this lawsuit
18 by Plaintiffs, Defendants are not complying with their litigation responsibilities, obligations, and
19 duties.
20 C. Motion re Sealing (Docket No. 8)
21 Plaintiffs have further filed a motion related to sealing. Plaintiffs expressly state that they
22 are not asking that any material be sealed now. However, they seek guidance on “potentially
23 sealable materials not presently in Plaintiffs’ possession.” Mot. at 2. Plaintiffs’ motion is
24 DENIED without prejudice. It is premature. If, in the future, Plaintiffs believe that information is
25 confidential, they may ask the Court to seal that information.
26 D. Motion to Expedite Discovery (Docket No. 9)
27 Plaintiffs ask that the Court permit discovery before the parties’ Rule 26(f) conference.
] motion for a preliminary injunction. The motion is DENIED without prejudice. It is premature
2 || given that Defendants have not yet been served or made an appearance in this case.
3 E. Motion to Proceed Under Pseudonym (Docket No. 10)
4 As noted above, there are two plaintiffs in this case: Mr. Reyna and C.R. Only C.R. seeks
5 || to proceed using a pseudonym. The motion is DENIED without prejudice. C.R. has not
6 || sufficiently explained why their identity should not be disclosed to the public. For example, C.R.
7 || has not explained why their privacy interests cannot be maintained so long as their genomic
8 information is maintained as confidential. Nor has C.R. explained why the privacy interests of
9 || persons to whom they are related would be compromised if C.R.’s identity alone is disclosed.
10 The Court shall permit C.R. — if they so choose — to file a supplemental brief addressing
11 why they should be permitted to proceed using a pseudonym. By February 4, 2026, C.R. shall file
12 || either (1) this supplemental brief or (2) a statement stating that they are now willing to proceed
13 || under their full name and disclosing what that name is. If C.R. does not file (1) or (2) by the
14 || deadline stated above, then they risk having their claims dismissed based on a failure to prosecute.
3 15 I. CONCLUSION
a 16 Plaintiffs’ motion for a TRO is denied. Their motion for a preliminary injunction is also
17 || denied, but without prejudice. Plaintiffs’ remaining motions are also denied without prejudice.
Zz 18 || As discussed above, if C.R. still wishes to proceed under a pseudonym, then they must file a
19 || supplemental brief by February 4, 2026.
20 This order disposes of Docket No. 7. It also disposes of Docket Nos. 4 and 8-10.
21
22 IT IS SO ORDERED.
23
24 || Dated: January 21, 2026
25
26
EDWA . CHEN
27 United States District Judge
28