Admission Against Interest Definition and Legal Meaning

On this page, you'll find the legal definition and meaning of Admission Against Interest, written in plain English, along with examples of how it is used.

What is Admission Against Interest?

n. just as hearsay admission against interest describe a statement offered to establish the facts asserted in that statement, and which proceeds to do harm to the interests of the party itself.

History and Meaning of Admission Against Interest

Admission against interest is a legal term used to describe a statement that is made by a party in a lawsuit or criminal proceeding, which goes against their own interests. The idea behind this concept is that if a person says something that would harm their case, it is more likely to be true because it is against their own interests. The statement is admitted into evidence to show that the person made a damaging admission, even if they did not mean to.

This principle has been around for centuries and is tied to the common law concept of self-incrimination. In criminal law, a suspect has the right to remain silent and not incriminate themselves, but if they do choose to speak, their words can be used against them in court. The same applies in civil law cases, as a party's own statements can be used against them to establish liability or damages.

Examples of Admission Against Interest

  1. In a personal injury lawsuit, the defendant admits that they were texting while driving and did not see the stop sign. This statement goes against their interests as it establishes negligence and liability.

  2. In a contract dispute, the plaintiff admits that they did not read the entire contract before signing it. This admission undermines their argument that the terms of the contract were not clear or were misleading.

  3. During a criminal trial, the defendant admits to being at the scene of the crime, even though their alibi had been that they were somewhere else. This admission hurts their case and makes it more likely that they will be convicted.

Legal Terms Similar to Admission Against Interest

  1. Hearsay: Statements made outside court that are offered as evidence of the truth of the matter asserted in those statements.

  2. Party Admission: A statement made by a party to a lawsuit that is against their interests and is admissible as evidence.

  3. Self-Incrimination: The right to remain silent and not incriminate oneself in a criminal trial.