Terms Used In Louisiana Code of Evidence 408

  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Restitution: The court-ordered payment of money by the defendant to the victim for damages caused by the criminal action.

A.  Civil cases.  In a civil case, evidence of (1) furnishing or offering or promising to furnish, or (2) accepting or offering or promising to accept, anything of value in compromising or attempting to compromise a claim which was disputed as to either validity or amount, is not admissible to prove liability for or invalidity of the claim or its amount.  Evidence of conduct or statements made in compromise negotiations is likewise not admissible.  This Article does not require the exclusion of any evidence otherwise admissible merely because it is presented in the course of compromise negotiations.  This Article also does not require exclusion when the evidence is offered for another purpose, such as proving bias or prejudice of a witness, negativing a contention of undue delay, or proving an effort to obstruct a criminal investigation or prosecution.

B.  Criminal cases.  This Article does not require the exclusion in a criminal case of evidence of the actions or statements described in Paragraph A, above, or of a giving or offer to give anything of value by the accused in direct or indirect restitution to a victim.

Acts 1988, No. 515, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1989.