No. Maybe that person didnt want to bother with tediousness of the courts.

Yeah, money. It's cheaper to admit no guilt and settle out of court than go thru with a trial

If this is this another reference to Jackson? Give it a rest already. If you serious, then read the contract they sign. They almost always say that "this does not inply an admission of guilt" clasue in the contract and settlement - otherwise they go to court. If you want to believe taht makes a prson guilty, then thats your choice. But most pople prefer to avoid the problems associated with a pathetic legal system that takes years to get justife - is there justie in it anyway? For corporations it is another story, but you can figures that one on your own.

It's a technical point, but reaching an out of court settlement means you're in civil court -- if you were in criminal court, it would be a plea bargain. Criminal cases deal with "guilt." Civil cases deal with "liability." I point out that distinction because accepting a plea bargain in a criminal case does mean an admission of guilt of something -- usually a lesser charge. (A plea bargain is basically your agreement to plead guilty to a lesser charge in exchange for the more serious charge being dropped.) In civil cases, an out-of-court settlement does not legally carry an admission of liability. That's something that lawyers will understand, but that others might not. The typical reasons for settling are 1) because the amount of money at issue is far less than the amount it would take for you to mount a defense, 2) because you think you'd lose (note that this doesn't mean you think you're guilty -- it just means you don't think a jury would believe you, or they wouldn't care), or 3) because you're worried about adverse publicity or other adverse impacts to your reputation. With regard to the last possibility, out of court settlements typically include a statement that it is not an admission of liability on your part, and also generally include extracting a promise from the opposing party not to discuss the case or the terms of the settlement.

From a legal standpoint it does not mean you are admitting to anything. In many cases it simply a measure to save money. In a criminal case, attorneys often have what is called a deposition where you are sworn under oath without a judge in front of a court reporter and asked legal questions. The attorneys then get together and decide if there is a case there or not and that is often when "deals" are made. The longer a case drags on, the more money it will cost you. Sometimes, if the person is guilty, there will be an out of court settlement to try and save money and possibly less public ridicule. Personally I have only been involved in one legal case where my ex was trying to get money out of me and I stood my ground on principle. If a person is innocent and can afford it, I say stand your ground.

Legally it means nothing. Sometimes it is your best move, but when you are paying key witnesses who have already submitted damning dispositions against you, it does not make your pleas of innocence any stronger. Typically people settle to avoid trial. MJ went to trial anyway, but minus the star witnesses against him. i think the odds of paying someone that much if you are going to deal with the drama of court anyway without feeling they are likely to get you convicted is really small.

If you are innocent never back down.