Press Releases & Statements on Secrecy in the Courts

Sunshine Law in Florida is a Model for All States

March 22— Sealed litigation documents can conceal lethal defects in a wide range of consumer products. They also limit the type of news coverage that impacts public awareness—coverage that might have saved Danny Keysar. Thirty-one states have adopted statutes or court rules that limit or prohibit secrecy in litigation, and Florida is an excellent example.

Florida was the first state to adopt a Sunshine in Litigation statute and its law is arguably the strongest in the nation in terms of protecting consumers from concealed public hazards in court records and settlement agreements. In particular, the law voids settlement agreements that conceal potential public health and safety hazards. More states should adopt laws like this one.

Anti-Secrecy Statutes and Court Rules by State (Last Updated: March 22)

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