There has been a great deal of highly-necessary discussion concerning secret settlements for sexual and other forms of workplace harassment.

Such settlements allow the abuser to continue the conduct and practices that led to the payment. 

These settlements are a recipe for future abuse.

The revelation that public monies were used to fund secret settlement to protect members of Congress is leading to demands for disclosure of the identities of the abusers and the payouts in public office.

There has been a well-sourced rumor around for some time that the District of Columbia Bar entered into such a secret settlement of an employee-abuse complaint a number of years ago. 

The District of Columbia Bar – now under new leadership – has an obligation to report to the membership any such settlements that either were directly funded by mandatory dues or through insurance policies in place for that purpose as well as any disciplinary action taken against the abuser. (Mike Frisch)

The membership also has a right to know if the offending employee was or was not disciplined for the abuse. (Mike Frisch)