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The Florida Statutes

The 2022 Florida Statutes (including 2022 Special Session A and 2023 Special Session B)

Title VII
EVIDENCE
Chapter 90
EVIDENCE CODE
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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.