Court Opinion

ID: 9738288
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 19:49:01.604017+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:24:05.228309
License: Public Domain

KIRSCH, Judge,
concurring in result.
I fully concur with the decision of my colleagues holding the mediated settlement agreement was unambiguous and that, therefore, the trial court erred in admitting extrinsic evidence to prove the meaning of its terms. I also fully concur with the decision regarding attorney fees. I part ways with my colleagues, however, in regard to their discussion of mediation confidentiality.
This case turns upon long-established principles of contract interpretation. “Where the terms of a contract are clear *1099and unambiguous, the terms are conclusive and we will not construe the contract or look at extrinsic evidence, but will merely apply the contractual provisions.” Stenger v. LLC Corp., 819 N.E.2d 480, 484 (Ind.Ct. App.2004), tmns. denied (2005). From my perspective, the source of the extrinsic evidence is of no moment; whatever its source, it is inadmissible. Whether it is subject to claims of confidentiality or privilege is similarly not relevant.
I do not read Alternate Dispute Resolution Rule 2.11 as broadly as do my colleagues. The rule is specifically subject to Indiana Evidence Rule 408 that provides for exclusion of offers of compromise, but that also specifically provides: “This rule does not require exclusion when the evidence is offered for another purpose, such as providing bias or prejudice of a witness, negating a contention of undue delay, or proving an effort to obstruct a criminal investigation or prosecution.” Whether “another purpose” includes extrinsic proof of the intent of the parties to a mediated settlement is a question that I would hold for another day.