Being sued can be an unsettling and frightening experience. However, it you are not careful, it can be a haunting one, even when you win. That is because court records about the lawsuit are available to the public- and in many cases are on the internet.

A search of court records, which is an increasingly common part of background checks for jobs or housing, can reveal details of a lawsuit that are embarrassing or unfairly prejudicial. California law provides some protections from being unfairly prejudiced by a civil suit that was dismissed or without merit, but you often need to be proactive in protecting your good name.