Bill Introduced to Bar New Jersey Public Entities from Entering Into Confidential Settlement Agreements

On November 26, 2013, the Assembly introduced a bill (A4498) to prohibit confidentiality in any agreement to settle a claim or action in which a public entity or public employee (in his or her capacity as a public employee) is a named party, including employment-related claims. The bill contains very limited exceptions (e.g., matters involving national security, when disclosure would reveal the identity of victims of sex crimes or the abuse of children who were under the age of 18 at the time of the offense, etc.). The legislation has been referred to the Assembly Judiciary Committee.