I think some laws need to be changed

[x]

To stop people giving evidence by paying them money. And if that
person was paid money for that, then if they do give evidence they
should be allowed to keep the money.

[McGyver]

Post by x
To stop people giving evidence by paying them money. And if that
person was paid money for that, then if they do give evidence they
should be allowed to keep the money.

There is nothing wrong with paying someone to testify as long as the
witness tells the truth and the one paying did not attempt in any way
to get the witness to lie. Expert witnesses are paid every day.
Doctors, scientists, architects, etc. There is nothing wrong with it.
If we pass a law that says they must not be paid, they would not
testify and could not be forced to testify. That would be an important
loss.

We already have laws against lying as a witness and laws against paying
or in any other way attempting to influence someone to lie as a
witness. So we don't need any new laws about that, I don't think.

If I have not addressed your concern, please explain what you meant.

This answer must not be relied on as legal advice for the reasons
posted here: http://mcgyverdisclaimer.blogspot.com . And I am not your
attorney.

McGyver

[Seth]

Post by McGyver

Post by x
To stop people giving evidence by paying them money. And if that
person was paid money for that, then if they do give evidence they
should be allowed to keep the money.

There is nothing wrong with paying someone to testify as long as the
witness tells the truth and the one paying did not attempt in any way
to get the witness to lie. Expert witnesses are paid every day.
Doctors, scientists, architects, etc. There is nothing wrong with it.
If we pass a law that says they must not be paid, they would not
testify and could not be forced to testify. That would be an important
loss.
We already have laws against lying as a witness and laws against paying
or in any other way attempting to influence someone to lie as a
witness. So we don't need any new laws about that, I don't think.
If I have not addressed your concern, please explain what you meant.

OP asked the opposite: suppose I witness something (an automobile
accident) and one party doesn't want me to testify, so he pays me not
to testify.

The other party could still force my testimony, but I don't have to
volunteer anything.

A more common example might be a company paying severance only if the
employee signs an agreement not to testify against the company. Such
agreements are probably not enforceable.

Seth

[McGyver]

Post by Seth

Post by McGyver

Post by x
To stop people giving evidence by paying them money. And if that
person was paid money for that, then if they do give evidence they
should be allowed to keep the money.

There is nothing wrong with paying someone to testify as long as the
witness tells the truth and the one paying did not attempt in any
way to get the witness to lie. Expert witnesses are paid every
day. Doctors, scientists, architects, etc. There is nothing wrong
with it. If we pass a law that says they must not be paid, they
would not testify and could not be forced to testify. That would
be an important loss.
We already have laws against lying as a witness and laws against
paying or in any other way attempting to influence someone to lie
as a witness. So we don't need any new laws about that, I don't
think.
If I have not addressed your concern, please explain what you meant.

OP asked the opposite: suppose I witness something (an automobile
accident) and one party doesn't want me to testify, so he pays me not
to testify.
The other party could still force my testimony, but I don't have to
volunteer anything.
A more common example might be a company paying severance only if the
employee signs an agreement not to testify against the company. Such
agreements are probably not enforceable.
Seth

You could be right about what OP meant. I invited OP to clarify. OP
has not.