Legal Definitions - rule of optional completeness

The rule of optional completeness is a legal principle designed to ensure fairness when only a portion of a written document or recorded statement is presented as evidence in court. If one party introduces only part of a statement, the opposing party has the right to immediately require that other relevant parts of the same statement be presented as well.

The primary purpose of this rule is to prevent a misleading or incomplete impression from being created by taking a statement out of its full context. For the rule to apply, the additional parts requested must be relevant and necessary to explain or clarify the original portion presented. This rule primarily applies to written documents and recorded statements, such as emails, contracts, letters, transcripts of conversations, or video recordings.

Here are some examples illustrating how the rule of optional completeness works:

• Example 1: Email in a Contract Dispute

  In a lawsuit over a breach of contract, Company A's lawyer presents an email from Company B's representative that states, "We accept the proposed delivery schedule." Company A intends to show that Company B agreed to the terms.

  Company B's lawyer immediately invokes the rule of optional completeness, pointing out that the very next sentence in the same email reads, "...contingent upon receiving final approval from our legal department by Friday."

  Explanation: Without the second part, the court might believe Company B unconditionally accepted the schedule. The rule ensures the full, conditional nature of the acceptance is understood, preventing a misleading impression and providing the complete context of Company B's agreement.

• Example 2: Recorded Police Interview

  During a criminal trial, the prosecutor plays a short audio clip from the defendant's police interview where the defendant says, "I was at the bank that morning." The prosecutor aims to place the defendant at the scene of a robbery.

  The defense attorney then requests that the next portion of the recording be played, where the defendant immediately clarifies, "...to deposit my paycheck, and I left before it opened."

  Explanation: The initial statement, "I was at the bank that morning," could imply involvement in the crime. The rule allows the defense to provide immediate context, showing the defendant's innocent reason for being there and their departure before any incident, thus preventing the jury from drawing an unfair conclusion based on an incomplete statement.

• Example 3: Internal Company Report

  In a product liability lawsuit, the plaintiff's attorney introduces a paragraph from an internal company report that states, "Our initial tests showed a potential defect in the product's wiring." The plaintiff uses this to suggest the company was aware of a flaw.

  The company's attorney then uses the rule of optional completeness to introduce the subsequent paragraph from the same report, which details, "However, further extensive testing revealed the initial finding was an anomaly, and the wiring design was ultimately confirmed to be safe and robust."

  Explanation: Presenting only the first paragraph could suggest the company knowingly sold a defective product. The rule allows the company to immediately provide the complete picture from the report, showing that the potential defect was investigated and ultimately disproven, offering a more accurate understanding of their findings and preventing a misrepresentation of the company's actions.