Legal Definitions - undue prejudice

Definition: Undue prejudice refers to harm or damage caused to one's legal rights or claims without any factual basis or evidence. It can also refer to the harm caused by exposing the fact-trier to persuasive but inadmissible evidence or evidence that arouses emotions and leads to illogical reasoning.

Examples: If a defendant in a court case can show that dismissing the case without prejudice will deprive them of a substantive property right or preclude them from raising a defense that will be unavailable or endangered in a second suit, it can be considered undue prejudice. Another example of undue prejudice is when a fact-trier is exposed to evidence that is persuasive but inadmissible, such as evidence of prior criminal conduct.

Explanation: Undue prejudice can occur in various legal situations, such as during a court case or trial. It can harm one's legal rights or claims without any factual basis or evidence, leading to an unfair outcome. The examples illustrate how undue prejudice can occur in different ways, such as when a defendant is deprived of their substantive property right or when a fact-trier is exposed to inadmissible evidence that can sway their decision-making process.