---
title: O.C.G.A. § 51-11-20. Satisfaction and settlement of tort authorized; what agreements allowed where tort constitutes crime.
collection: code
id: 51-11-20
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 51-11-20 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/51-11-20
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/51-11-20.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/51-11-20/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t51-(v39)-2017-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=6b891965_0#page=830
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/code/51-11.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/51-11-10.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/code/51-11-21.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: TORTS / DEFENSES TO TORT ACTIONS / SATISFACTION
---

# O.C.G.A. § 51-11-20. Satisfaction and settlement of tort authorized; what agreements allowed where tort constitutes crime.

(a) If a tort does not amount to a crime, the person injured may consent to a satisfaction and settlement thereof.

(b)(1) If a tort amounts to a crime, the person injured may agree upon and receive compensation for the personal injury.

(2) However, any attempt to satisfy the public offense or to suppress a prosecution therefor is illegal and will vitiate the entire agreement, except in those cases for which the law expressly allows such a settlement. Such an attempt to satisfy or to suppress prosecution of a public offense which amounts to a felony is itself an offense under this Code; and, even if executed, an agreement to this effect shall be no defense to an action for the tort. If the offense does not amount to a felony and the agreement is fully executed, such agreement shall constitute satisfaction for the private tort.

## History

Orig. Code 1863, §§ 2986, 2987; Code 1868, §§ 2999, 3000; Code 1873, §§ 3054, 3055; Code 1882, §§ 3054, 3055; Civil Code 1895, §§ 3894, 3895; Civil Code 1910, §§ 4491, 4492; Code 1933, §§ 105-1901, 105-1902.

## Cross References

Penalty for compounding a crime, § 16-10-90.