united-states court-records
Are the opinions of a United States superior court public knowledge?
<p>If I bring a case to a superior court and I lose, is that information public knowledge?</p>

<p>What are the ramifications to me?  For example, could it hurt my credit score?</p>

<p>If you are worried that some secret will become public, you should find and meet with an <em>attorney</em>, not a financial adviser or other nonlawyer. <em>Your</em> attorney is able to shield your secret information from disclosure in ways other professionals cannot. Raise any credit score issues you're concerned about.</p>

<p>In general, the public has a right to access judicial records. <em>See</em> <a href="https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=355909589853635487&amp;hl=en&amp;as_sdt=6&amp;as_vis=1&amp;oi=scholarr#p597"><em>Nixon v. Warner Communications, Inc.</em>, 435 US 589, 597 (1978)</a> (noting that the right is rarely litigated and not clearly defined). That right is not absolute; some records can be sealed, which means that the public can't read them. Local rules govern when that happens. I don't think the <em>existence</em> of a civil lawsuit could be made secretly except in special circumstances. Likewise, the plaintiff usually must identify herself, except in special circumstances.</p>

<p>A plaintiff should assume that everything about the lawsuit--who filed it, against whom, what evidence arises, the trial, and who wins and loses--will be public.</p>
