Accord and Satisfaction: When a check is a trap!

When a you receive a random, unexpected payment for half of your subrogation claim, you might think, "hooray!  Now I only have to recover the remaining half.  That was easy!"  But beware - if that payment has limiting language like, "payment in full" or there is a letter along with it, you may be in trouble. When can these surprise payments count as a settlement?  And why do settlements count as settlements, anyhow?  The answer is the doctrine of accord and satisfaction.  Listen in as Rebecca and Steve talk about what is really required for a claim of accord and satisfaction, when you can accept the payment, and why a settlement settles the claim.