This may be common knowledge for a lot of people but it bears repeating. If you get a court settlement and the terms are that it is confidential, please respect it. There is too much at risk to blab over it.
As a mediator and arbitrator for the Los Angeles and Santa Monica bar, I know first hand that silence is more than golden when it comes to legal agreements. It is the law. It is required. That is why I couldn’t believe that I was in an elevator the other day with two strange men and one of them was telling the other the details of some court settlement he was in. What if I was a from the courthouse and familiar with his case? What if I were a junior (well, okay senior) partner of the law firm that was against him and overheard him? I could march my overhearing butt back to court and get the judgment thrown out.
Folks, please respect the sanctity of the settlement. It doesn’t matter if the settlement came from a trial, arbitration or a mediation. If you think of the aggravation you have gone through to get it, the pain, the madness, the anger, possibly the seemingly endless depositions, the soul-wrenching testimony in front of total strangers, it isn’t worth it just for bragging rights.
This is especially important when it comes to dealing with special needs clients that you are responsible for. The person you are caring for may not understand what has happened and it would be horrible to get services removed, funds cancelled or worse because you had an attack of ego.
I am sure it won’t happen if you remember this post. I suppose I shouldn’t be so shocked at human nature. I think one of the first things that people like to do when they hear good ideas is tell it to the world. In this specific situation, it is better to keep it from the world! To do anything else just doesn’t make sense and isn’t profitable!
Kim Greenblatt
Kim Greenblatt, in his blog, profitable, reminds you to respect the sanctity of court settlements and keep your mouth shut!