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2023 Florida Statutes (including 2023C)

Title VII EVIDENCE
Chapter 90 EVIDENCE CODE Entire Chapter
SECTION 4026
Statements expressing sympathy; admissibility; definitions.
F.S. 90.4026
90.4026 Statements expressing sympathy; admissibility; definitions.—
(1) As used in this section:
(a) “Accident” means an occurrence resulting in injury or death to one or more persons which is not the result of willful action by a party.
(b) “Benevolent gestures” means actions that convey a sense of compassion or commiseration emanating from human impulses.
(c) “Family” means the spouse, parent, grandparent, stepmother, stepfather, child, grandchild, brother, sister, half brother, half sister, adopted child of parent, or spouse’s parent of an injured party.
(2) The portion of statements, writings, or benevolent gestures expressing sympathy or a general sense of benevolence relating to the pain, suffering, or death of a person involved in an accident and made to that person or to the family of that person shall be inadmissible as evidence in a civil action. A statement of fault, however, which is part of, or in addition to, any of the above shall be admissible pursuant to this section.
History.—s. 1, ch. 2001-132.