Legal Definitions - on point

The term on point describes something that is directly relevant and precisely applicable to the specific issue, question, or legal matter currently being discussed or decided. In a legal context, it often refers to a previous court decision, a statute, or a legal argument that directly addresses the exact legal question or factual situation at hand, making it highly persuasive or authoritative.

• Legal Precedent in a Personal Injury Case: Imagine a lawyer representing a client who slipped and fell on a wet floor in a grocery store. The lawyer is searching for previous court decisions (known as precedents) that have addressed similar situations. If they find a case from the same state's appellate court where a grocery store was held liable for a customer's injury due to a wet floor that wasn't promptly cleaned or marked, that previous decision would be considered on point.
  • How it illustrates the term: This prior case is directly relevant because it involves similar facts (a slip and fall in a retail store due to a wet floor) and the same legal question (the store's duty of care and potential liability for negligence), providing a direct guide for the current case.
• Statutory Interpretation for a New Business: A city council is debating whether a new ride-sharing service, which uses electric scooters, falls under an existing city ordinance that regulates "motorized vehicles for hire." The ordinance was originally drafted decades ago for taxis and limousines. If the ordinance contains a specific clause defining "motorized vehicles" broadly to include any self-propelled device used for transportation for a fee, regardless of its size or traditional classification, that clause would be on point.
  • How it illustrates the term: The specific definition within the ordinance directly addresses the core question of whether the electric scooters are covered by the regulation, making it precisely applicable to the council's decision.
• Expert Testimony in a Patent Dispute: In a complex patent infringement lawsuit involving a new software algorithm, one side presents an expert witness who testifies about the novelty and non-obviousness of the patented technology. If the expert's testimony includes a detailed analysis of prior art (existing technologies) that directly compares and contrasts with the specific features of the patent in question, demonstrating why the patent is indeed innovative, their testimony is considered on point.
  • How it illustrates the term: The expert's explanation is directly focused on the central legal issues of novelty and non-obviousness as they apply to the specific patented algorithm, providing highly relevant information for the court.