Legal Definitions - off point

Off Point

"Off point" describes an argument, statement, or piece of evidence that is not relevant or directly related to the specific issue or question being discussed or decided. When something is "off point," it means it deviates from the central topic and therefore does not help resolve the matter at hand.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• In a courtroom, during a trial focused solely on whether a defendant breached a contract, the defense attorney begins to present detailed evidence about the defendant's excellent reputation in the community and their charitable contributions over the past decade.

  Explanation: This evidence, while potentially positive, is off point because the defendant's general character or good deeds are irrelevant to the specific legal question of whether they failed to uphold the terms of a particular contract. The court needs to focus on the contract's details, not the defendant's overall persona.

• During a critical business meeting where the main agenda item is to finalize the budget for a new product launch, one executive spends a significant amount of time discussing the company's upcoming holiday party plans and potential entertainment options.

  Explanation: The discussion about the holiday party, while a valid company event, is off point in the context of a meeting dedicated to a product launch budget. It distracts from the primary financial decisions that need to be made for the new product.

• At a public town hall meeting specifically organized to gather community feedback on a proposed new bike lane project for a particular street, a resident stands up and delivers a lengthy speech about the need for more affordable housing options across the entire city.

  Explanation: While affordable housing is an important civic issue, the resident's speech is off point for this specific town hall. The meeting's purpose is to discuss the bike lane project on a designated street, and broader housing policy, though significant, is not relevant to that particular decision.