The two hardest words to say might be “I’m sorry.” As we all know, an admission of fault is meaningful on a personal basis. Acknowledging we erred can sometimes cause us to question our abilities, values and judgment.
An admission can also carry enormous legal and social consequences. This is particularly true when the apology is for someone’s death and when a grieving family demands justice. Attorneys often discourage clients—especially institutional clients with “deep pockets”—to refrain from bluntly accepting blame. An admission can eliminate leverage the client would otherwise have to bargain a favorable settlement. Particularly early on in a dispute, sometimes the preferred tactic is to muddy the waters through deflection and overcomplication.