Legal Definitions - conclusory

A statement is considered conclusory when it presents an assertion or a conclusion as if it were a fact, but it fails to provide the specific underlying details, evidence, or reasoning that supports that conclusion. Essentially, it states what is believed to be true without explaining how or why it is true.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• In a legal complaint: Imagine a plaintiff files a lawsuit claiming, "The defendant engaged in fraudulent activity."

  Explanation: This statement is conclusory because it asserts fraud without providing any specific facts. It doesn't describe *what* the defendant did, *when* or *where* these actions occurred, or *how* those actions constitute fraud (e.g., misrepresenting specific information, forging documents, or making false promises). To be non-conclusory, the complaint would need to detail the specific actions, dates, and communications that allegedly constitute the fraudulent activity.

• In a performance review: A manager writes, "Sarah is an unproductive employee."

  Explanation: This is a conclusory statement about Sarah's performance. It states a judgment without providing any supporting examples or data. To make this statement non-conclusory, the manager would need to include specific instances, such as, "Sarah failed to meet her project deadlines on three occasions last quarter," or "Sarah's sales figures were 20% below the team average for the past six months."

• In a police report: An officer writes, "The suspect appeared suspicious."

  Explanation: This statement expresses a conclusion about the suspect's demeanor without detailing the specific observations that led to that inference. To be non-conclusory, the report should describe the underlying facts, such as, "The suspect was observed repeatedly looking over his shoulder, walking quickly away from the scene, and clutching a bag tightly to his chest." These specific actions are the factual basis for the conclusion of "suspicious."