Legal Definitions - predicate fact

A predicate fact is a fact that is necessary to the operation of an evidentiary rule or from which a presumption or inference arises. For example, in a trial for breach of oral contract, a party's statement "I agree to reimburse you" is an operative fact, while a statement like "Joel told me Mike said he would reimburse me" is a predicate fact.

Another example of a predicate fact is the existence of a conspiracy for the co-conspirator exception to the hearsay rule to apply.

Predicate facts are important in legal proceedings because they help establish the basis for legal claims or defenses.