Legal Definitions - false plea

A false plea is a type of sham pleading in which a party to a legal proceeding makes an obviously frivolous or absurd pleading that is made only for purposes of vexation or delay. It is also known as a sham plea or deceitful plea.

For example, if a defendant in a civil lawsuit were to file a response that contained obviously false or absurd claims, such as claiming that they were not present at the time of the alleged incident when there is clear evidence to the contrary, this would be considered a false plea.

False pleas are not taken seriously by the court and are often dismissed quickly. They are considered a waste of time and resources and can result in sanctions or penalties for the party making the false plea.