ATTORNEY GENERAL
Under provisions set out in the Texas Constitution, the Texas Government Code, 
Title 4, sec.402.042 and numerous statutes, the attorney general is authorized 
to write advisory opinions for state and local officials. These advisory 
opinions are requested by agencies or officials when they are confronted with 
unique or unusually difficult legal questions. The attorney general also 
determines, under authority of the Texas Open Records Act, whether information 
requested for release from governmental agencies may be held from public 
disclosure. Requests for opinions, opinions, and open record decisions are 
summarized for publication in the Texas Register. The Attorney General responds 
to many requests for opinions and open records decisions with letter opinions. A 
letter opinion has the same force and effect as a formal Attorney General 
Opinion, and represents the opinion of the Attorney General unless and until it 
is modified or overruled by a subsequent letter opinion, a formal Attorney 
General Opinion, or a decision of a court of record. To request copies of 
opinions, please fax your request to (512) 462-0548 or call (512) 936-1730. To 
inquire about pending requests for opinions, phone (512) 463-2110.

Open Records Decision
ORD-658 (ORQ-28) Mr. Stephen R. Alcorn Assistant City Attorney City of Grand 
Prairie P.O. Box 534045 Grand Prairie, Texas 75053-4045 concerning whether a 
final mediated settlement agreement, including financial and all other terms of 
that agreement, is confidential under section 154.073 of the Civil Practice and 
Remedies Code (ORQ-28)
SUMMARY Open Records Letter Number 98-0302 (1998) is overruled to the extent 
that it conflicts with this decision. Section 552.101 of the Government Code in 
conjunction with sec.154.073 of the Civil Practice and Remedies Code does not 
except from required public disclosure a governmental body's mediated final 
settlement agreement. Nor does sec.552.107(1) of the Government Code except from 
disclosure such agreement in this instance. Section 552.103 of the Government 
Code protects from required public disclosure a portion of the settlement 
agreement that relates to pending litigation.
TRD-9810795