Legal Definitions - fact pleading

Definition: Fact pleading is a legal requirement that demands all submissions to the court, such as complaints and answers, to include all the necessary facts to support their claims. This system is no longer used in the federal system, but some states still use it. It is different from notice pleading.

Example 1: In a fact pleading system, if someone is filing a complaint against a company for breach of contract, they must include all the details of the contract, the breach, and how it has caused them harm.

Example 2: If someone is answering a complaint in a fact pleading system, they must include all the facts that support their defense, such as any agreements or documents that contradict the allegations.

These examples illustrate how fact pleading requires parties to provide all the necessary facts to support their claims or defenses. It ensures that the court has all the information it needs to make a fair decision.