Negative pregnant
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negative pregnant
n. a denial of an allegation in which a person actually admits more than he/she denies by denying only a part of the alleged fact. Example: Plaintiff alleges Defendant "misused more than a hundred thousand dollars placed in his trust in 1994." Defendant denies the amount was more than a hundred thousand, and denies it was given to him in 1994." Thus, the defendant did not deny the misuse, just the amount and the date.
NEGATIVE PREGNANT, pleading. Such form of negative expression, in pleading,
as may imply or carry within it an affirmative.
2. This is faulty, because the meaning of such form of expression is
ambiguous. Example: in trespass for entering the plaintiff's house, the
defendant pleaded, that the plaintiff's daughter gave him license to do so;
and that he entered by that license. The plaintiff replied that he did not
enter by her license. This was considered as a negative pregnant and it was
held the plaintiff should have traversed the entry by itself, or the license
by itself, and not both together. Cro. Jac. 87.
3. It may be observed that this form of traverse may imply; or carry
within it, that the license was given, though the defendant did not enter by
that license. It is therefore in the language of pleading said to be
pregnant with the admission, namely, that a license was given: at the same
time, the license is not expressly admitted, and the effect therefore is, to
leave it in doubt whether the plaintiff means to deny the license, or to
deny, that the defendant entered by virtue of that license. It is this
ambiguity which appears to constitute the fault. 28 H. VI. 7; Hob. 295;
Style's Pr. Reg. Negative Pregnant. Steph. PI. 381; Gourd, Pl. c. 6, Sec.
29-37.
4. This rule, however, against a negative pregnant, appears, in modern
times at least, to have received no very strict construction; for many cases
have occurred in which, upon various grounds of distinction from the general
rule, that form of expression has been free from objection. See several
instances in Com. Dig. Pleader, R. 6; 1 Lev. 88; Steph. Pl. 383. Vide Arch.
Civ. PI. 218; Doct. Pl. 817; Lawe's Civ. Pl. 114; Gould, Pl. c. 6, 36.