Legal Definitions - in modum adminiculi

In modum adminiculi is a Latin legal phrase that translates to "as corroborating evidence." It refers to evidence that is presented not to introduce a new fact or claim, but rather to support, strengthen, or confirm other evidence or testimony that has already been presented in a legal proceeding. Essentially, it adds credibility and weight to existing information.

• Example 1: Criminal Trial

  In a criminal trial for theft, a store employee testifies that they saw the defendant take an item without paying. To strengthen this testimony, the prosecution then introduces security camera footage from the store showing a person matching the defendant's description performing the act described by the employee. The security footage is presented in modum adminiculi because it doesn't introduce a new accusation, but rather supports and corroborates the eyewitness account, making the employee's testimony more credible to the jury.

• Example 2: Contract Dispute

  Two companies are in a dispute over whether a verbal agreement for a large software project was ever finalized. Company A claims that Company B verbally agreed to specific terms during a phone call. Company B denies that a final agreement was reached. Company A then presents a series of internal emails sent between its own project managers immediately after the phone call, discussing the project's scope and timeline as if the agreement was a done deal. These emails are offered in modum adminiculi. They don't constitute the contract itself, but they corroborate Company A's assertion that a verbal agreement was made, showing that Company A's employees believed a deal had been struck.

• Example 3: Personal Injury Claim

  A plaintiff in a personal injury lawsuit testifies that they experienced severe, ongoing back pain following a car accident. The defense questions the extent of the pain. The plaintiff's attorney then introduces medical records from a chiropractor, detailing a consistent treatment plan for severe back pain that began shortly after the accident and continued for several months. These medical records are submitted in modum adminiculi. They don't introduce the fact of the injury itself (which was already established by the accident), but they strongly corroborate the plaintiff's subjective testimony about the severity and persistence of their pain, lending objective medical support to their claim.