Pretext
Bouvier's Law Dictionary and Concise Encyclopedia · John Bouvier; revised by Francis Rawle · 1914
Bouvier's Law Dictionary and Concise Encyclopedia
The reasons assigned to Justify an act, which have only the appearance of truth, and which are without foundation, or which, if true, are not the true reasons for such act. Vattel, liv.
3, c. 3, § 32.
Ostensible reason or motive assigned Or assumed as a color or cover for the real reason or motive; false appearance, pretence.
State v. Ball, 27 Neb. 604, 43 N. W. 398.
PRETIUM AFFECTIONIS (Lat.). An imaginary value put upon a thing by the fancy of the owner in his affection for it or for the person from whom he obtained it Bell, Diet When an injury has been done to an artiin any case, for admitting the pretium affectionis. It seems that when the injury has been done accidentally by culpable negligence, such an estimation of damages would be unjust, but when the mischief has been intentional it ought to be so admitted.
Karnes, Eq. 74, 75.