fact pattern

English

Alternative forms

• fact-pattern

Noun

fact pattern (plural fact patterns)

1. (law) A set of relationships that have been established for an event from which a legal conclusion can be drawn.
   • 2007, Patrick R. Delaney, O. Ray Whittington, Wiley CPA Examination Review 2007-2008, Problems and Solutions, →ISBN:

     This simulation has four separate fact patterns, each followed by five legal conclusions relating to the fact pattern preceding those five numbered legal conclusions.

   • 2007, Steven L. Emanuel, Criminal Law, →ISBN, page 293:

     Lack of desire to hurt is no defense: Beware a common trap: the fact pattern indicates that D did not want to harm (or at least physically injure) anyone. This doesn't matter — it's still f.m. if the death proximately results from the felony.

   • 2014, Bruce T. Blythe, Blindsided: A Manager's Guide to Crisis Leadership, →ISBN:

     While you will have to make immediate decisions and take actions, the crisis fact pattern will most likely be incomplete and will contain wrong information.

   • 2014, Elies van Sliedregt, Sergey Vasiliev, Pluralism in International Criminal Law, →ISBN:

     In contrast, the problem with the common law approach is that it swings too far in the opposite direction, identifying everyone in the fact pattern, regardless of mental state, hierarchical position or level of contribution, as being a member of a massive JCE or conspiracy.