Trial Courts Must Take Specific Steps to Enforce Settlements

On March 26, 2015, the Ohio Supreme Court decided that after a case has been dismissed, a trial court retains authority to enforce a settlement only if the court’s dismissal entry either includes the agreement’s terms or explicitly states that the court has kept jurisdiction to enforce the agreement. Thus, the following language should be added to all dismissal entries: “The Court hereby retains jurisdiction to enforce the settlement agreement reached between the parties.” Infinite Security Solutions, LLC v. Karam Properties II, Ltd., 2015-Ohio-1101.