Compromise and offers to compromise

(a) Prohibited Uses. Evidence of the following is not admissible on behalf of any party, when offered to prove liability for, invalidity of, or amount of a claim that was disputed as to validity or amount or when offered to impeach through a prior inconsistent statement or contradiction: (1) furnishing or offering or promising to furnish—or accepting or offering or promising to accept—a valuable consideration in compromising or attempting to compromise the claim; and (2) conduct or statements made in compromise negotiations regarding the claim. (b) Permitted Uses. This rule does not require exclusion if the evidence is offered for purposes not prohibited by section (a). Examples of permissible purposes include proving a witness's bias or prejudice, negating a contention of undue delay, and proving an effort to obstruct a criminal investigation or prosecution. This rule does not require the exclusion of any evidence otherwise discoverable merely because it is presented in the course of compromise negotiations. [Amended 8-15-2013, eff. 10-1-2013.] Advisory Committee’s Notes By excluding evidence of offers to compromise, this rule promotes the policy of encouraging parties to settle their disputes. The theory underlying this rule is similar to that underlying Rule 407 – evidence of offers to compromise is inadmissible only when it is offered for the expressly impermissible purposes of proving liability for, or invalidity of, the claim, or to prove its amount. This rule is adopted, without change, from the corresponding Federal Rule of Evidence. See Fed.R.Evid. 408. Such a general exclusionary rule, regarding offers of compromise, has long been recognized in Alabama. See, e.g., Glaze v. Glaze, 477 So.2d 435 (Ala.Civ.App.1985); Whitfield v. Birmingham Trust & Sav. Co., 244 Ala. 526, 14 So.2d 137 (1943). See also C. Gamble, McElroy’s Alabama Evidence § 188.01(1) (4th ed. 1991). Chief among the permissible purposes for which otherwise precluded compromise evidence would be admissible, is that of proving the bias or prejudice of a witness. See Plitt v. Griggs, 585 So.2d 1317 (Ala.1991); Louisville & Nashville R.R. v. Martin, 240 Ala. 124, 198 So. 141 (1940); C. Gamble, McElroy’s Alabama Evidence § 49.01(11) (4th ed. 1991). The policy underlying this exclusionary rule is substantially similar to that underlying Ala.R.Civ.P. 68, which establishes a procedure whereby the defendant in civil litigation is authorized to make an offer of judgment in an effort to settle the dispute. Such an offer, if not accepted, is “deemed withdrawn and evidence thereof is not admissible except in a proceeding to determine costs.” In addition to evidence of compromise offers, Rule 408 excludes evidence of completed compromises. Ordinarily, of course, a completed compromise would be offered only in a situation where a party has made such an agreement with some third person. The exclusion of evidence of completed compromises is consistent with preexisting Alabama authority. See Chandler v. Owens, 235 Ala. 356, 179 So. 256 (1938); Cargall v. Riley, 209 Ala.183, 95 So. 821 (1923). The breadth of exclusion under Rule 408 is extended beyond that existing at common law to now preclude, in addition to evidence of mere offers of compromise, evidence as to conduct occurring, or statements made, in compromise negotiations. Heretofore, for example, Alabama law has not expanded the exclusion to include admissions made in the course of compromise negotiations. Rather, it has applied the rule so as to exclude only the offer of compromise itself. Millsap v. Williamson, 294 Ala. 634, 320 So.2d 649 (1975); Baker v. Haynes, Henson & Co., 146 Ala. 520, 40 So. 968 (1906). But see Super Valu Stores, Inc. v. Peterson, 506 So.2d 317 (Ala.1987) (indicating that conversations and negotiations would be inadmissible). The adoption of Rule 408 would appear to extinguish that preexisting line of authority in Alabama providing that offers to pay full compensation for an injury, as opposed to offers of a specified sum, are admissible. See Landham v. Lloyd, 223 Ala. 487, 136 So. 815 (1931); York v. Chandler, 40 Ala.App. 58, 109 So.2d 921, cert. denied, 268 Ala. 700, 109 So.2d 925 (1958). Alabama has a clear and long line of decisions applying the principle that the jury may be made privy to the fact and the amount of a settlement between the plaintiff and a person who, as to the defendant, is alleged to be a joint tort-feasor. See, e.g., Hardman v. Freeman, 337 So.2d 325 (Ala.1976); Miller v. Dacovich, 355 So.2d 1109 (Ala.1978); Reynolds v. McEwen, 416 So.2d 702 (Ala.1982). See C. Gamble, McElroy’s Alabama Evidence § 188.06 (4th ed. 1991). See also, C. Gamble, Alabama Law of Damages § 10-4 (2d ed. 1988). The present rule is in no way intended to change this preexisting Alabama law under which the amount paid by a joint tort-feasor can be shown in mitigation of damages. See Vt.R.Evid. 408 advisory comments. While evidence of third-party settlements is within the general exclusion of Rule 408, it is not excluded when offered for the permissible purpose of proving the amount of damages the defendant must pay. C. Wright & A. Miller, Federal Practice and Procedure § 5314, at 282 (1980). Alabama law of damages requires that a defendant assert the plaintiff’s pro tanto settlement with a joint tortfeasor before being allowed to set off the amount of such a settlement against the amount of the judgment secured by the plaintiff. Under Alabama authority predating the adoption of these Alabama Rules of Evidence, this damages rule dictates that evidence of such a pro tanto settlement by the plaintiff with the joint tortfeasor be admitted when offered by the defendant. Rule 408 has no impact upon this line of authority. See Miller v. Dacovich, 355 So.2d 1109 (Ala.1978); Hardman v. Freeman, 337 So.2d 325 (Ala.1976). Nothing in Rule 408 is intended to protect otherwise discoverable evidence simply because a party has offered such evidence during compromise negotiations. Stated differently, a party is not allowed to use Rule 408 as a shield against otherwise proper pretrial discovery.