Legal Definitions - quasi-admission

A quasi-admission is an informal statement made outside of a formal legal proceeding that, while not a direct confession or a binding acknowledgment of guilt or liability, suggests an inference of fault or responsibility. These statements can be introduced as evidence in court to support a claim against the person who made them. However, unlike a formal admission made in court, a quasi-admission is not conclusive; the person who made the statement can offer explanations or contradict it.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• Example 1: Car Accident

  Imagine two drivers involved in a minor fender bender. Immediately after the collision, one driver says to the other, "Oh no, I'm so sorry, I was just checking my GPS and didn't see you stop." This statement is a quasi-admission. It is not a formal admission of legal liability for damages, but it strongly suggests that the driver was at fault. If the other driver later sues for damages, this informal statement could be presented as evidence to show the first driver's responsibility. The driver could later try to explain their statement, but it would still serve as evidence against them.

• Example 2: Workplace Dispute

  Consider an employee who is being investigated for unauthorized use of company resources. When confronted by a supervisor, the employee casually remarks to a colleague, "Yeah, I probably used the company printer for a few personal things, but it was just a couple of pages." This remark is a quasi-admission. It's not a formal confession of policy violation or theft, but it acknowledges using company property for personal reasons. This informal statement could be used as evidence in an internal disciplinary hearing or even a legal proceeding to demonstrate the employee's acknowledgment of their actions, even if they later try to minimize the extent.

• Example 3: Construction Delay

  During a heated discussion about significant delays on a construction project, the project manager for the contractor says to the client, "We might have underestimated the complexity of the foundation work, which set us back a few weeks." This statement is a quasi-admission. It is not a formal admission of breach of contract or full responsibility for all delays, but it acknowledges a potential miscalculation or error on the contractor's part. The client could later use this statement as evidence in a dispute to argue that the contractor contributed to the project's delays, even if the contractor attempts to provide further context or blame other factors.