Sham Plea
Defined in 4 dictionaries — Cyclopedic (1922), Bouvier (1914), Black's (1910), Bouvier (1839)
The Cyclopedic Law Dictionary
Walter A. Shumaker and George Foster Longsdorf; ed. James C. Cahill · 1922
One which is palpably false in fact, though it be good in f orrti.
Bouvier's Law Dictionary and Concise Encyclopedia
John Bouvier; revised by Francis Rawle · 1914
See Plea.
Black's Law Dictionary
Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910
See Plea.
A Law Dictionary, Adapted to the Constitution and Laws of the United States
John Bouvier · 1839
is one entered for the mere purpose of delay; it must be of a matter which the pleader knows to be false; as judoment recovered, that is, that judgment has already been recovered by the plaintiff for the same cause of action. These sham pleas are generally discouraged, and in some cases are treated as a nullity. Barn. & Ald. 197, 199; 5 Ibid. 750; 1 Barn. & Cr. 286; Archb. Civ. Pl. 249; 1 Chit. Pl. 401.