Which rule provides that insurance evidence in civil cases is not admissible to prove negligence but may be offered for another purpose?

Which rule provides that insurance evidence in civil cases is not admissible to prove negligence but may be offered for another purpose?

• A. Rule 411
• B. Rule 601
• C. Rule 502
• D. Rule 701

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is how liability insurance is treated in civil cases. Evidence that a person was or was not insured against liability cannot be used to prove that the person acted negligently. That keeps jurors from jumping to the conclusion that having insurance means someone was at fault. But the rule also lets insurance evidence be admitted for other legitimate reasons, such as showing a witness’s bias or prejudice, or proving agency, ownership, or control relevant to the case. For example, if the existence of an insurer could reveal who had the authority to act or who benefits from a particular outcome, that information can be probative on those issues. The other listed rules cover different topics—witness competency, privilege and inadvertent disclosures, or lay opinion testimony—so they aren’t about whether insurance can be used for or against negligence.

The main idea here is how liability insurance is treated in civil cases. Evidence that a person was or was not insured against liability cannot be used to prove that the person acted negligently. That keeps jurors from jumping to the conclusion that having insurance means someone was at fault. But the rule also lets insurance evidence be admitted for other legitimate reasons, such as showing a witness’s bias or prejudice, or proving agency, ownership, or control relevant to the case. For example, if the existence of an insurer could reveal who had the authority to act or who benefits from a particular outcome, that information can be probative on those issues. The other listed rules cover different topics—witness competency, privilege and inadvertent disclosures, or lay opinion testimony—so they aren’t about whether insurance can be used for or against negligence.