Sue and Settle

Sue and Settle

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, ...

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Host: David R. Legates

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Organizations: Environmental Protection Agency

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