What is Intrinsic Evidence?
Information necessary for the determination of an issue in a lawsuit that is gleaned from the provisions of a document itself, as opposed to testimony from a witness or the terms of other writings that have not been admitted by the court for consideration by the trier of fact.
Examples and Case Studies
Real-Life Example
Consider a scenario where a lawsuit involves the interpretation of a will. The court examines the text of the will itself to determine the intentions of the deceased. The language within the will provides intrinsic evidence, as the meaning and intent are derived directly from the document without external testimony or additional documents.
Case Study: Brown v. Estate of Smith
In the case of Brown v. Estate of Smith, Brown contested the distribution of assets outlined in Smith's will. The court focused on the will's language to resolve ambiguities. The provisions within the will served as intrinsic evidence to determine Smith's intentions regarding the distribution of his estate, without relying on external evidence or witness testimony.
Case Study: Johnson v. Green Corp.
In Johnson v. Green Corp., Johnson sued Green Corp. for breach of contract. The court examined the contract itself to interpret the disputed terms. The contract's provisions provided intrinsic evidence, as the court relied solely on the text within the document to make its determination.
Legal Requirements
| Requirement | Description |
|---|---|
| Document Provisions | The evidence must come directly from the provisions of the document itself. |
| Relevance | The evidence must be relevant to the determination of the issue at hand. |
| Independence from External Evidence | The interpretation relies solely on the document's text, without considering external testimony or documents. |
Common Issues and Disputes
Common issues in cases involving intrinsic evidence often include:
- Determining whether the document's language is clear and unambiguous.
- Assessing the relevance and sufficiency of the document's provisions in resolving the dispute.
- Interpreting legal or technical terms within the document.
- Deciding if external evidence is necessary when the document's provisions are insufficient or unclear.
Key Points
- Intrinsic evidence is derived directly from the document in question.
- It does not rely on external testimony or additional documents.
- Commonly used in cases involving the interpretation of contracts, wills, and other legal documents.
- Helps ensure that the original intent and meaning of the document are preserved.
Further Reading
For more detailed information, see our related Evidence terms:
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