{"id":360944,"date":"2013-01-28T16:34:14","date_gmt":"2013-01-28T21:34:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/dictionary\/definition\/fact.html"},"modified":"2013-01-28T16:34:14","modified_gmt":"2013-01-28T21:34:14","slug":"fact","status":"publish","type":"dictionary","link":"https:\/\/dictionary.findlaw.com\/definition\/fact.html","title":{"rendered":"Fact"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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term:<\/p>\n

<\/h1>\n\n
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n<\/p><\/dt>\n

[Latin factum<\/i> deed, real happening, something done, from neuter of factus<\/i>, past participle of facere<\/i> to do, make]
1<\/b> :<\/b> something that has actual existence
:<\/b> a matter of objective reality
2<\/b> :<\/b> any of the circumstances of a case that exist or are alleged to exist in reality
:<\/b> a thing whose actual occurrence or existence is to be determined by the evidence presented at trial see also finding of fact<\/i> at finding<\/a>, judicial notice<\/a> question of fact<\/i> at question<\/a>, trier of fact<\/a> compare law<\/a>, opinion<\/a> <\/p>\n

adjudicative fact<\/b>
:<\/b> a fact particularly related to the parties to an esp. administrative proceeding compare legislative fact<\/a> in this entry <\/p>\n

collateral fact<\/b>
:<\/b> a fact that has no direct relation to or immediate bearing on the case or matter in question compare material fact<\/a> in this entry <\/p>\n

constitutional fact<\/b>
:<\/b> a fact that relates to the determination of a constitutional issue (as violation of a constitutional right) used esp. of administrative findings of fact <\/p>\n

evidentiary fact<\/b>
:<\/b> a fact that is part of the situation from which a case arises and that is established by testimony or other evidence called also mediate fact<\/i> predicate fact<\/i> compare ultimate fact<\/a> in this entry <\/p>\n

legislative fact<\/b>
:<\/b> a fact of general social, economic, or scientific relevance that does not change from case to case compare adjudicative fact<\/a> in this entry <\/p>\n

material fact<\/b>
:<\/b> a fact that affects decision making: as
a<\/b> :<\/b> a fact upon which the outcome of all or part of a lawsuit depends
b<\/b> :<\/b> a fact that would influence a reasonable person under the circumstances in making an investment decision (as in purchasing a security or voting for a corporate officer or action) <\/p>\n

mediate fact<\/b>
:<\/b> evidentiary fact <\/a> in this entry <\/p>\n

predicate fact<\/b>
:<\/b> evidentiary fact <\/a> in this entry <\/p>\n

ul·ti·mate fact<\/b>
[əl-ti-mət-]
:<\/b> a conclusion of law or esp. mixed fact and law that is necessary to the determination of issues in a case and that is established by evidentiary facts compare evidentiary fact<\/a> in this entry

in fact<\/b>
:<\/b> as a factual matter
:<\/b> established by fact rather than as a matter of law
<\/b><\/p>\n<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n

Source: Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary of Law \u00a91996. Merriam-Webster, Incorporated. Published under license with Merriam-Webster, Incorporated.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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