Legal Definitions - intra fidem

Intra Fidem (pronounced: in-trah fee-dem)

This Latin term translates to "within belief" or "credible." In a legal context, it refers to something that is considered believable, plausible, or within the realm of what a reasonable person would accept as true. It often applies to evidence, testimony, or claims that are not inherently improbable or impossible, making them worthy of consideration.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• Witness Testimony: During a trial, a witness testifies that they saw a car traveling at an extremely high speed, far exceeding the legal limit, just before an accident. If the witness's account of the car's speed is consistent with the damage observed at the scene, the type of vehicle involved, and other corroborating evidence, their testimony would likely be considered intra fidem. It falls within the bounds of what is believable given the circumstances, even if it describes an unusual event. Conversely, if the witness claimed the car was flying or invisible, that testimony would likely be considered outside the realm of belief.

• Insurance Claim: An individual files an insurance claim stating that a rare, valuable antique vase was broken when a small, domesticated cat accidentally knocked it off a sturdy shelf. If the claimant provides photos of the shelf, the cat, and the broken vase, and the circumstances described (e.g., the cat jumping, the vase's position) are physically possible and don't defy common sense, the insurance company would likely assess the claim as intra fidem. While unfortunate, the event is credible and could reasonably happen. If, however, the claim stated the vase was broken by a meteor strike in an indoor setting, it would likely be considered outside the realm of belief without extraordinary evidence.

• Contractual Dispute: Two businesses are in a dispute over a contract. One party claims that a verbal agreement was made for a highly unusual and complex service, with no written documentation or witnesses, and that this agreement was reached in a five-minute phone call. If the nature of the service typically requires extensive negotiation, detailed written terms, and multiple approvals, the claim of such a significant verbal agreement being finalized so quickly might be viewed as not intra fidem. It stretches the limits of what is reasonably believable for a transaction of that complexity, making it less credible in the absence of strong supporting evidence.