Rule 90.408 Compromise and offers to compromise

When two people are in a dispute and try to work out a settlement, anything said or offered during those talks cannot be used against either side in court. For example, if someone offers to pay you $5,000 to settle a dispute, that offer cannot later be used as proof that they did something wrong.

This rule exists to encourage people to talk openly and try to resolve disputes without going to court. If people feared that their settlement offers could be used against them, they would be less likely to try to work things out.

This protection covers both the offers themselves and anything said during the negotiation process. So if you are in talks to settle a case, you can speak more freely knowing those conversations will stay out of the courtroom.