Opinion ID: 2129921
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: whether the trial court erred in admitting a portion of a letter which contained specific settlement proposals.

Text: During the hearing, Eugene testified concerning a conversation between decedent, Sylvia, Sophia, and himself, among other people, regarding the distribution of the automobiles in the event that the estate was not in need of any funds. At the hearing, counsel for Sophia and Sylvia offered into evidence a portion of a letter that was written by Eugene's counsel. The letter, among other things, synopsized the decedent's intended distribution of the automobiles in the event that they did not need to be sold and was offered for the limited purpose of showing that statement of fact. The specific portion of the letter which counsel sought to introduce read: The inventory of property in the house at Douglas Street would all go to the two girls and the vehicles would be distributed as outlined by Ingrid and as I explained in Sturgis, with the Ford Fairmont going to Sophia, the 1958 Corvette going to Sylvia, the 1968 Corvette going to Gene and Sophia, the Volkswagon to Sylvia and Sophia, and the 1950 Chevrolet to Gene. Eugene objected to the admission of the letter because it constituted a proposed settlement and distribution of the cars. As such, Eugene contends its admission is prohibited by SDCL 19-12-10, which states: Evidence of (1) furnishing or offering or promising to furnish, or (2) accepting or offering or promising to accept, a valuable consideration 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 section does not require the exclusion of any evidence otherwise discoverable merely because it is presented in the course of compromise negotiations. This section 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. (Emphasis added.) Eugene asserts that the letter's introduction is prohibited because of the tenor of the entire letter. We disagree. The record does not indicate that there was any dispute concerning ownership of the automobiles by decedent or their distribution after her death. Sylvia and Sophia assert, and Eugene concedes, that the automobiles were to be distributed according to the scheme set forth by decedent, and we previously held that they did not pass from decedent's ownership at the time she gave the certificates of title to Eugene. That portion of the letter which counsel attempted to introduce was an undisputed factual assertion and was otherwise discoverable. As such, it is not rendered inadmissible under SDCL 19-12-10. See Erickson v. Webber, 58 S.D. 446, 449, 237 N.W. 558, 559 (1931); United States v. Reserve Mining Company, 412 F.Supp. 705, 712 (D.Minn.1976); and 31A C.J.S. Evidence § 287 (1955).