You guys know how I often comment on Canadian stuff? For example the stereotype that Canadians apologize for everything? And how it’s totally true?
Turns out it’s even legally recognized.
By law in 9/13 Canadian provinces and territories (they’re pushing to make it universal) an apology does not constitute an admission of fault or liability, and must not be taken into legal consideration as such, and is inadmissible as evidence.
In other places, is an apology assumed to be an admission of fault? Or would it be up for debate whether it was a fault-apology or sympathy-apology? Can anyone cite a case where this was argued? I’m assuming there must have been some sort of incident that brought this law about…
I assume it must have happened a number of times, as it’s a trope in tv shows. Lawyers are always advising people that they can’t apologize, say sorry, or even admit that something happened. At the very least, the idea that it CAN happen is very much a part of public consciousness, and so people refrain from offering any sort of sympathy out of caution.
It’s the case over here.
Yeah, in the U.S. apologizing for something counts as legal evidence that you accept liability and responsibility for it. It’s fucked up.