Legal Definitions - doctrine of completeness

The doctrine of completeness is a fundamental legal principle designed to ensure fairness and prevent misunderstanding when only a portion of a document or recorded statement is presented as evidence in a legal proceeding. If one party introduces an incomplete piece of evidence, the opposing party has the right to demand that other relevant parts of the same document or related statements be introduced simultaneously. This is to prevent a misleading impression that might arise from viewing the evidence out of its full context.

The primary goal is to provide the judge or jury with a complete and accurate understanding of the evidence. This means that even material that might ordinarily be considered inadmissible on its own (such as hearsay) can be admitted if it is absolutely necessary to correct a false impression created by the initial, incomplete evidence.

Here are some examples illustrating the doctrine of completeness:

• Partial Email Chain:

  Scenario: In a fraud trial, the prosecutor introduces an email from the defendant to a colleague that reads, "We need to make sure this information disappears before the audit." The prosecutor argues this shows an intent to destroy evidence.

  Application: The defense attorney could invoke the doctrine of completeness to introduce the preceding emails in the same conversation. These emails might reveal that the "information" referred to outdated marketing brochures that needed to be removed from the company website, not incriminating financial records. Without the full context, the jury might wrongly infer an intent to obstruct justice, but the complete chain clarifies the defendant's innocent intent.

• Edited Audio Recording:

  Scenario: During a breach of contract trial, Party A plays a short audio clip of Party B saying, "I accept the offer." Party A argues this proves a binding agreement was made.

  Application: Party B's attorney could then request that the entire recording of the conversation be played under the doctrine of completeness. The full recording might show that immediately after saying "I accept the offer," Party B added, "...contingent upon final approval from my board of directors, which I expect next week." This additional statement fundamentally changes the meaning of the acceptance, showing it was conditional and not an absolute agreement, providing the complete context of the negotiation.

• Excerpt from a Medical Record:

  Scenario: In a personal injury lawsuit, the plaintiff's attorney presents a single page from the plaintiff's medical record stating, "Patient reports severe, chronic pain and inability to work." This is used to support a claim for significant damages.

  Application: The defense attorney might use the doctrine of completeness to introduce other pages from the same medical record, or even related records from the same doctor. These additional pages might include notes from subsequent visits where the patient reported significant improvement after treatment, or details about pre-existing conditions that could contribute to pain. This provides a more balanced view of the plaintiff's overall medical condition and recovery trajectory, preventing the jury from forming a misleading impression based on an isolated statement.