Note:
William S. Kleinman, Who is Suing You?: John Doe Plaintiffs in Federal Courts, 61 TEXAS L. REV. 547 (1982).
 

Abstract:
At common law, a defendant had the right to know the name of his accuser, a practice which prevented anonymous plaintiffs from bringing suit. Recently, plaintiffs have begun requesting that their identities be kept secret, and courts have occasionally allowed this practice by making exceptions to the general rule. As these exceptions have become more and more numerous, courts have attempted to categorize them, but with little success, as there is no fundamental policy behind the shift in the law. The author articulates a comprehensive rationale for considering whether a specific plaintiff should be allowed to proceed anonymously and suggests how it may be implemented so as to maximize the use of anonymity where it is needed most.