Me. R. Evid. 411

As amended through February 27, 2023
Rule 411 - Liability Insurance

Evidence that a person was or was not insured against liability is not admissible to prove whether the person acted negligently or otherwise wrongfully.

Me. R. Evid. 411

Adopted effective 1/1/2015.

Maine Restyling Note [November 2014]

Maine Rule 411 is substantially identical with the first sentence of Federal Rule 411. The second sentence of the original Federal Rule 411 was omitted in the Maine rule as redundant and unnecessary. See, e.g., Rule 404(b). But see Rule 407. The proposed restyled Maine Rule follows the first sentence of the restyled Federal Rule.

Federal Advisory Committee Note

The language of Rule 411 has been amended as part of the general restyling of the Evidence Rules to make them more easily understood and to make style and terminology consistent throughout the rules. These changes are intended to be stylistic only. There is no intent to change any result in any ruling on evidence admissibility.

Rule 411 previously provided that evidence was not excluded if offered for a purpose not explicitly prohibited by the Rule. To improve the language of the Rule, it now provides that the court may admit evidence if offered for a permissible purpose. There is no intent to change the process for admitting evidence covered by the Rule. It remains the case that if offered for an impermissible purpose, it must be excluded, and if offered for a purpose not barred by the Rule, its admissibility remains governed by the general principles of Rules 402, 403, 801, etc.

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