Definition

1. Noun:
   • A legal pleading that presents multiple, mutually exclusive claims or defenses: "Alternative pleading" is a legal procedure where a party in a lawsuit states two or more sets of facts or legal theories that cannot logically be true at the same time. The party asserts these separate claims or defenses in the alternative, meaning the court is asked to rule on whichever set is later proven or found applicable.

Usage and Examples

• Noun:
  • The plaintiff's complaint included an alternative pleading for both breach of contract and, in the alternative, unjust enrichment.
  • The defendant filed an answer with alternative pleading, denying negligence but also asserting that the plaintiff's own negligence was the primary cause.

Advanced Usage and Legal Context

• "To plead in the alternative": This is the verbal phrase describing the act of filing an alternative pleading. It is a standard strategy when the full facts are unclear or when multiple legal theories could apply based on how evidence unfolds at trial.
  • The lawyer advised her client to plead in the alternative to preserve all possible legal avenues.

Variants and Related Terms

• Alternative Allegation: A specific claim made within an alternative pleading.
• Inconsistent Pleading: A related term sometimes used interchangeably, though it may carry a slightly more negative connotation of logical conflict.

Synonyms

• Pleading in the alternative: The full descriptive term for the same concept.
• Inconsistent defenses: A term focusing on the defensive use of this tactic.

Notes on Meaning

• This is a specialized term in civil procedure. Its purpose is to allow a party to seek relief or avoid liability under different possible scenarios without being forced to choose a single theory of the case prematurely. It is generally permitted under modern rules of civil procedure to ensure fair and complete adjudication of disputes.

Noun

1. a pleading that alleges facts so separate that it is difficult to determine which facts the person intends to rely on