Legal Definitions - negative averment

Definition: Negative averment is a legal term that refers to a statement that denies or contradicts a previous statement or claim. It is the opposite of an averment, which is a positive declaration or assertion.

Example: In a court case, the defendant may make a negative averment by denying the allegations made by the plaintiff. For instance, if the plaintiff claims that the defendant stole their car, the defendant may make a negative averment by stating that they did not steal the car.

Explanation: The example illustrates how a negative averment works in a legal context. The defendant is denying the plaintiff's claim, which is a negative statement that contradicts the plaintiff's positive assertion. The negative averment is an important tool in legal proceedings because it allows parties to dispute claims and present evidence to support their position.