Legal Definitions - ratio pertinens

Ratio pertinens is a Latin legal phrase that translates to "a pertinent reason." In legal contexts, it refers to the requirement that a question or line of inquiry must have a clear, relevant, and legitimate purpose related to the matter being discussed or decided. It ensures that legal questioning is focused, productive, and not used for irrelevant or harassing purposes.

• Example 1 (Courtroom Testimony):

  During a trial for a slip-and-fall incident at a grocery store, the plaintiff's attorney asks the store manager, "Can you describe the store's standard procedure for cleaning up spills on the sales floor?"

  This question demonstrates ratio pertinens because the store's cleaning procedures are directly relevant to determining whether the store exercised reasonable care to prevent the accident. The attorney has a clear and pertinent reason for asking, as it goes to the heart of the negligence claim.

• Example 2 (Discovery in a Business Dispute):

  In a lawsuit between two companies over an alleged intellectual property infringement, one company's lawyer sends a request for production of documents asking the other company to "provide all internal emails and memos discussing the design and marketing of the product in question, dated prior to the launch date."

  This request exhibits ratio pertinens because these internal communications are highly relevant to establishing when the product was developed, who was involved, and whether there was any knowledge of the alleged infringement. The reason for the request is directly pertinent to proving or disproving the claims in the intellectual property case.

• Example 3 (Administrative License Hearing):

  At a hearing for a professional license renewal, where there have been complaints about a licensee's conduct, a board member asks the licensee, "Have you completed the mandatory ethics training required by the board in the last two years?"

  This question shows ratio pertinens because compliance with mandatory training, especially ethics training, is a direct and pertinent factor in assessing a professional's fitness for licensure and addressing conduct complaints. The board member has a legitimate and relevant reason for asking, as it relates directly to the criteria for license renewal and professional standards.