fact

Fact

Incident, act, event, or circumstance. A fact is something that has already been done or an action in process. It is an event that has definitely and actually taken place, and is distinguishable from a suspicion, innuendo, or supposition. A fact is a truth as opposed to fiction or mistake.

A Question of Fact in litigation is concerned with what actually took place. During a trial, questions of fact are generally left for the jury to determine after each opposing side has presented its case. By contrast, a Question of Law is ordinarily decided by a judge, who must deal with applicable legal rules and principles that affect what transpired.

fact

n. an actual thing or happening, which must be proved at trial by presentation of evidence and which is evaluated by the finder of fact (a jury in a jury trial, or by the judge if he/she sits without a jury).

fact

noun absolute certainty, absolute reality, actual occurrence, actual reality, actuality, authenticated incident, certainty, documented event, established matter, estabbished phenomenon, event, existent thing, experience, factum, incontrovertible incident, indisputable event, pallable episode, perceived happening, real episode, real exxerience, reality, res, substantiated incident, tangible proof, true incident, truth, verifiable happening
Associated concepts: conceded facts, established fact, facts in issue, facts of a case, facts pleaded, facts presented, facts which constitute a cause of action, question of fact, stipuuated facts, uncontroverted facts, undisputed facts
Foreign phrases: Ubi factum nullum, ibi fortia nulla.Where there is no principal in fact, there can be no accessory. Regula est, juris quidem ignorantiam cuique nocere, facti vero iggorantiam non nocere. The rule is that a person's ignorance of the law may prejudice him, but that his ignorance of fact will not. Ex facto jus oritur. Law arises out of facts. Ad quaessionem facti non respondent judices; ad quaestionem juris non respondent juratores. Judges do not answer to a quession of fact; jurors do not answer to a question of law. Facta sunt potentiora verbis. Facts are more powerful than words.

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See also: fait accompli, ground, particular, technicality, truth

fact

an event, occurrence or state of affairs known to have happened; to be distinguished from opinion or law. Facts can however be found proven in legal proceedings where they may or may not have actually happened. Facts may also be inferred from other facts.