Home Q&A Forum Can settlement agreement details be public?

Litigation

Settlement Agreement

Texas

Asked on Dec 16, 2023

Can settlement agreement details be public?

I recently entered into a settlement agreement with another party and am concerned about the details of the agreement being made public. I am worried that the agreement may contain sensitive information that could be detrimental to my reputation or interests if it were to be shared publicly. I am looking for guidance on the legal implications of the settlement agreement being made public and what, if anything, I can do to protect myself in this situation.

Answers from 1 Lawyer

Answer

Litigation

Texas

Answered 871 days ago

J.R. S.

ContractsCounsel verified

Business Lawyer
Licensed in Texas
View J.R. S.
5.0 (4)
Member Since:
December 29, 2023

Yes, details of a settlement agreement can be made public, especially when a governmental body is involved due to the Public Information or Open Records Act. This act states that the public has a right to access information on government affairs and official acts of public officials and employees unless expressly excepted. However, there are exceptions to this general rule. For instance, disclosure of personnel information that would "constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy" is excepted. This is not to say that all settlement agreements are public. In some cases, parties to a settlement agreement may choose to include confidentiality clauses, which prevent the details of the settlement from being disclosed to the public or any third party. The legal rule for agreements between attorneys or parties touching any suit pending is that they will not be enforced unless they are in writing, signed and filed with the papers as part of the record, or unless they are made in open court and entered of record.

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