Carroll v. Southwestern Bell Corp.
Carroll v. Southwestern Bell Corp.
982 F.2d 1255; 1993 WL 13610
(Federal Reporter, Second Series)
Carroll v. Southwestern Bell Corp.
Opinion of the Court
dissenting.
I respectfully dissent.
This case involves a dispute over attorneys’ fees in an ERISA claim that was settled. All of the settlement papers in the ERISA claim were sealed by the district court.
I feel strongly that the business of the courts is public business. I would require the parties to air their dispute in public. This case does not involve trade secrets, just a desire to keep the terms of a settlement secret. This the parties may do, but when they ask the court’s blessing, they ask too much. I have serious concerns about propriety of the district court order sealing the terms of the settlement. This court should not perpetuate this ruling.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.