Legal Definitions - allegatio falsi

The term allegatio falsi (pronounced: ah-leh-GAH-tee-oh FAL-see) is a Latin phrase that refers to an untrue allegation or a false statement. In legal contexts, it describes a situation where someone makes a claim or assertion that is not true, often with the intent to deceive or mislead.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• Example 1: During a civil lawsuit concerning a property dispute, a witness testifies under oath that they personally observed the defendant erecting a fence on the plaintiff's land last summer. However, the witness was actually out of the country during that entire period and could not have seen the event. This false testimony constitutes an allegatio falsi because the witness made an untrue allegation about their direct observation of the event.

• Example 2: A company applying for a government contract submits a proposal claiming it has a specific certification required for the project. In reality, the company has not yet obtained this certification and is merely hoping to acquire it before the contract begins. This misrepresentation in the official application is an allegatio falsi, as it is an untrue statement made in a formal context to gain an advantage.

• Example 3: An individual seeking to obtain a loan from a bank provides financial statements that significantly inflate their income and assets. They present these documents as accurate representations of their financial health to secure a larger loan amount than they would otherwise qualify for. The inflated figures in the financial statements represent an allegatio falsi, as they are untrue allegations about the individual's financial standing.