Sealed Settlement Agreements in Federal District Court.

摘要

The Judicial Conference of the United States' Advisory Committee on Civil Rules asked the Federal Judicial Center to conduct research on sealed settlement agreements filed in federal district court. Although the practice of confidential settlement agreements is common, the question is how often and under what circumstances such agreements are filed under seal. Many civil cases settle before trial, and defendants commonly seek confidentiality agreements concerning the terms of settlement. Usually such agreements are not filed. A high proportion of civil cases settle, but a sealed settlement agreement is filed in less than one-half of one percent of civil cases. In 97% of these cases, the complaint is not sealed.