Impertinent
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IMPERTINENT, practice, pleading. What does not appertain, or belong to; id
est, qui ad rem non pertinet.
2. Evidence of facts which do not belong to the matter in question, is
impertinent and inadmissible. In general, what is immaterial is impertinent,
and what is material is, in general, not impertinent. 1 McC. & Y. 337. See
Gresl. Ev. Ch. 3, s. 1, p. 229. Impertinent matter, in a declaration or
other pleading is that which does not belong to the subject; in such case it
is considered as mere surplusage, (q.v.) and is rejected. Ham. N. P. 25.
Vide 2 Ves. 24; 5 Madd. R. 450; Newl. Pr. 38; 2 Ves. 631; 5 Ves. 656; 18
Eng. Com. Law R. 201; Eden on Inj. 71.
3. There is a difference between matter merely impertinent and that
which is scandalous; matter may be impertinent, without being scandalous;
but if it is scandalous, it must be impertinent.
4. In equity a bill cannot, according to the general practice, be
referred for impertinence after the defendant has answered or submitted to
answer, but it may be referred for scandal at any time, and even upon the
application of a stranger to the suit. Coop. Eq. Pl. 19; 2 Ves. 631; 6 Ves.
514; Story, Eq. Pl. Sec. 270. Vide Gresl. Eq. Ev. p. 2, c. 3, s, 1; 1 John.
Ch. R. 103; 1 Paige's R. 555; I Edw. R. 350; 11 Price, R. 111; 5 Paige's R.
522; 1 Russ. & My. 28; Bouv. Inst. Index, h.t.; Scandal.
MATTER, IMPERTINENT, Equity pleading. That which is altogether irrelevant to the case, that does not appertain or belong to it; id est, qui ad rem non pertinet. 4 Bouv. Inst. n. 4163. See Impertinent.