Out of court settlements should be illegal.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

Money owning the law...and yet media says it's all well and good, I've never despised my establishment quite like this before, nor the BBC for colluding in this.  Rich enough? Buy off justice. UK Prince Andrew millionaire alleged rapist.

You do realize that this only applies to civil law - and the PLAINTIFF ( alleged victim) has the say of settling or going to court?

The defendant has no choice.

Actually, the defendant DOES have a choice. Both parties do. In point of fact, it is the defendant who almost always makes the offer of a settlement. The plaintiff can either accept or reject the settlement. It’s also important (as Lawz implied) to take into consideration the amount of pressure that a wealthy defendant can bring to bear to get a settlement accepted.

But I think the chief point being made is that, in certain instances (like, you know, rape), the law should be changed to disallow out of court settlements.

Boru