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LSDefine
Simple English definitions for legal terms
denial
Read a random definition: derivative action
A quick definition of denial:
Denial is when someone says that something is not true. For example, if someone is accused of doing something wrong, they might say "I didn't do it" - that's a denial. In a court case, if someone is being sued, they can choose to admit that they did what they're accused of, deny that they did it, or say that they don't know if they did it or not. If they deny it, they have to say which parts of the accusation they're denying. If they deny everything, that's called a general denial. If they only deny some things, that's called a specific denial.
A more thorough explanation:
Denial is when someone says that an accusation made against them is not true. In a civil lawsuit, a defendant has three options when responding to a plaintiff's complaint: admit, deny, or deny based on lack of information or knowledge. When denying an allegation, the defendant must clearly state which parts of the allegation they are denying.
- If someone is accused of stealing, they might deny that they took anything.
- If someone is accused of causing a car accident, they might deny that they were driving the car at the time.
These examples show how someone might use denial to refute an accusation made against them. By denying the specific parts of the allegation that they believe are false, they are stating that they did not do what they are being accused of.