Consent decree

Consent decree

A consent decree (also referred to as a consent order or stipulated judgment or agreed judgment) is a final, binding judicial decree or judgment memorializing a voluntary agreement between parties to a suit in return for withdrawal of a criminal charge or an end to a civil litigation. In a typical consent decree, the defendant has already ceased or agrees to cease the conduct alleged by the plaintiff to be illegal and consents to a court injunction barring the conduct in the future. A consent judgment can also memorialize payment of damages. Sometimes the defendant expressly does not admit to fault, illegality or damages. Consent decrees are used most commonly in criminal law and family law. They are sometimes used in antitrust law.

A consent decree can be either interlocutory or final. The former is given on some plea or issue arising in the cause which does not decide the main question; the latter settles the matter in dispute, and a final decree has the same effect as a judgment at law.

Once entered, a consent decree is binding on the consenting parties and cannot be reviewed except on a showing that the consent was obtained by fraud or that the decree was based on mutual error or a failure of consent.

If the party against whom the judgment is rendered violates the terms of the consent decree, the judgment is as binding as any other, and the non-breaching party may seek enforcement through a contempt action. Enforcement actions vary, but can include wage garnishment and/or property lien(s).

See also

References

  • [1] Consent decrees recently entered by the U.S. Department of Justice
  • [2]

Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • consent decree — see decree Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam Webster. 1996. consent decree n …   Law dictionary

  • consent decree — ➔ decree * * * consent decree UK US noun [C] ► LAW in the US, an official legal judgement that describes an agreement that has been made by the two sides in a particular legal case. This often involves one side agreeing to end legal action if… …   Financial and business terms

  • consent decree — consent′ decree n. law a judicial decree that endorses a settlement reached by two contending parties • Etymology: 1920–25 …   From formal English to slang

  • consent decree — n. a negotiated agreement of the parties to a lawsuit which resolves the disputed issues and is sanctioned by the court; often, specif., such an agreement by which the defendant agrees to cease an activity or practice asserted by the government… …   English World dictionary

  • consent decree — noun an agreement between two parties that is sanctioned by the court; for example, a company might agree to stop certain questionable practices without admitting guilt • Topics: ↑law, ↑jurisprudence • Hypernyms: ↑decree, ↑edict, ↑fiat, ↑order, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • consent decree — A decree entered in an equity suit on consent of the parties. Such a decree, when entered, is binding on the consenting parties, and it cannot be heard or reviewed except on a showing that consent was obtained by fraud or that the decree was… …   Ballentine's law dictionary

  • consent decree — noun A decree of a court giving effect to an agreement between the litigating parties. Syn: consent judgement …   Wiktionary

  • consent decree — noun Date: 1904 a judicial decree that sanctions a voluntary agreement between parties in dispute …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • consent decree — Law. 1. an agreement, approved by the court, pursuant to which the defendant ceases activities alleged by the government to be illegal and the government s action is dropped, esp. in antitrust and other regulatory matters. 2. an agreement made in …   Universalium

  • Duran Consent Decree — The Duran consent decree was a stipulated agreement to litigation of Duran v. King regarding prison conditions in New Mexico. Categories: New Mexico lawUnited States prison stubs …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”