Legal Definitions - peccavi

Peccavi refers to an explicit admission or acknowledgment of having committed a wrong, fault, or offense.

• Example 1: A pharmaceutical company faces a class-action lawsuit alleging that one of its drugs caused severe side effects. During settlement negotiations, the company's legal team presents a statement acknowledging that their internal testing protocols were insufficient and failed to identify a critical risk factor, leading to harm.

  Explanation: This statement from the pharmaceutical company constitutes a peccavi because it is a direct admission of fault regarding their testing protocols, thereby acknowledging responsibility for the resulting harm to patients.

• Example 2: A city council member is under public scrutiny for allegedly accepting improper gifts from a developer. In a press conference, the council member states, "I deeply regret accepting those gifts and understand now that my actions created an appearance of impropriety and violated the public trust."

  Explanation: The council member's public statement serves as a peccavi. By expressing deep regret and acknowledging that their actions violated public trust, they are confessing to the wrongdoing and accepting responsibility for the ethical breach.

• Example 3: During a civil trial concerning a breach of contract, one party's CEO takes the stand and testifies, "Yes, I authorized the diversion of resources from Project Alpha to Project Beta, even though I knew it would delay Alpha's completion beyond the agreed-upon deadline."

  Explanation: The CEO's testimony is a clear peccavi. They are directly admitting to making a decision that resulted in a breach of the contract, thereby confessing to the specific action that constitutes the legal wrong.