Sue and Settle

Sue and Settle

From Sanity Check by Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation

April 17, 2026 · 11 min

About this episode

David R. Legates discusses the implications of the sue-and-settle practice in shaping public policy.

What happens when lawsuits quietly shape public policy—without a full trial, public scrutiny, or legislative debate? In this episode of Sanity Check, David R. Legates unpacks the controversial practice known as “sue-and-settle.” What begins as a seemingly straightforward legal mechanism—citizens holding agencies accountable—can, in practice, become something far more complex. Through negotiated settlements between advocacy groups and federal agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency, ...

People in this episode

Host: David R. Legates

Topics covered

  • lawsuits
  • public policy
  • sue-and-settle
  • advocacy groups
  • federal agencies

Keywords

  • lawsuits
  • public policy
  • sue-and-settle
  • Environmental Protection Agency
  • advocacy groups

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Environmental Protection Agency

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