Increasing Concern Over Sealed Files

Ryan Nute

Contributor

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As you may know, the Seattle Times has been investigating a number of instances where it claims judges improperly sealed files in a number of medical malpractice and other court cases.

There is often tension between litigants' desire to keep court records out of the public eye and the fact that our court system is the "third branch" of government whose records are public. Plaintiffs often face pressure from defendants to agree to sealed court files and not to discuss the case with the media or anyone else not involved in the litigation. It will be interesting to see if and how medical malpractice and other personal injury cases will be affected by increased public access to court records.

Read More: Ken Armstrong, Justin Mayo and Steve Miletich, The Seattle Times