Legal Definitions - high–low agreement

A high-low agreement is a settlement between a defendant and a plaintiff in which the defendant agrees to pay the plaintiff a minimum amount of money, and the plaintiff agrees to accept a maximum amount of money, regardless of the outcome of the trial. This type of settlement is also known as a hilo settlement.

For example, in a personal injury case, the defendant may agree to pay the plaintiff a minimum of $50,000 and a maximum of $100,000. If the jury awards the plaintiff less than $50,000, the defendant will pay the minimum amount. If the jury awards the plaintiff more than $100,000, the defendant will pay the maximum amount.

A misdemeanor is a type of crime that is less serious than a felony. It is usually punishable by a fine, penalty, forfeiture, or confinement in a place other than prison, such as a county jail. Misdemeanors are also known as minor crimes or summary offenses.

For example, traffic violations, disorderly conduct, and petty theft are all examples of misdemeanors. These crimes are less serious than felonies, which are punishable by imprisonment in a state or federal prison.

Some misdemeanors, such as gross misdemeanors and serious misdemeanors, have more severe penalties than other misdemeanors. Conduct that rises to the level of a serious misdemeanor can sometimes be charged as either a felony or a misdemeanor.