What does 'Without Prejudice' mean at the start of letters?

Question

And should I be worried if I'm receiving letters that have this as the top?

Answer 1

"Without Predjudice" is use in the course of negotiations to indicate that a particular letter or conversation is not to be tendered as evidence in court. The correspondenace must be a genuine attempt to settle a dispute otherwise it can be tendered.

It would be use for example to offer a payment in settlement of a claim without admitting any guilt through the offer of settlement. The parties could then not refer back to the letter and use it as an admission.

If you are getting letters with this on then the party sending the letter is merely reserving their right to take stronger action which would not be influenced in any way by the letter.

Answer 2

In a legal letter it means that the letter, and the information within it, cannot be presented as evidence before the judge.

Answer 3

It is usually used in the course of negotiations between two parties prior to possible court action.

It basically means that nothing that is said in the letter is to be taken as prejudicial to the party who made the statements in any (possible) future legal action.

Answer 4

usually it means the letter may have some correspondence about legal proceedings or possibility of legal proceedings against the adressee and the letter has been written without any personal prejudice towards the adressee.

Answer 5

In plain english, it means that this is an offer and whether you accept it or not, the writer may still choose to take further action.

It is usually just an initial attempt to stop any further and probably more costly proceedings.

Do not worry, it is the start of something, not the end.

Answer 6

It means the content cannot be used against the writer in a Court of law!

Answer 7

G'day Sportacus,

Thanks for the questions.

It means not affecting nor considering other possibly related issues.

Regards

Answer 8

You did it.