- Committee -

SCS/SB 686 - This act establishes that certain discovery and settlement documents filed or maintained in product liability cases are open public records unless a court determines the records should be sealed. The act authorizes judges to order that records be sealed if the requesting party can show that the request is narrowly tailored and that no less restrictive means exist to protect disclosure of prejudicial or confidential information and that: (a) the information is a trade secret, (b) the information would cause undue harm to a party, and (c) an interest exists which substantially outweighs the right of public access to the information.

Any portion of an agreement between parties that prohibits a party from disclosing information to a government agency about a defective product is considered void and unenforceable.

JIM ERTLE