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Landmark Settlements, By State

Thousands of civil lawsuits are filed each year in the United States. But very few actually make it to trial. The majority of legal cases are settled out of court.

Pursuing a legal course is expensive, time-consuming and emotionally draining. In many cases, a settlement is the best route for all parties.

By definition, a lawsuit is settled when the plaintiff forgoes their legal right to sue by reaching an agreement with the defendant to certain costs and terms.

Civil suits are filed every day by people seeking damages and restitution for a variety of reasons, everything from car accidents to medical malpractice, from nursing home abuse to defective drugs. A civil suit can also involve contract disagreements, real estate matters and other noncriminal legal disputes.

Some lawsuit settlements reach into the billions of dollars or involve high-profile celebrities. But most settlements are reached by everyday people seeking modest restitution for the wrongs they have suffered.

The following is a breakdown of some of the top landmark legal settlements by U.S. state, as well as Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C.

Alabama
Arizona
Arkansas
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
New Hampshire
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
Puerto Rico
Utah
Washington, D.C.
Wisconsin