parol-evidence rule. Contracts. The common-law principle that a writing intended by the parties to be a final embodiment of their agreement cannot be modified by evidence of earlier or contemporaneous agreements that might add to, vary, or contradict the writing. • This rule usu. operates to prevent a party from introducing extrinsic evidence of negotiations […]
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four-corners rule. 1. The principle that a document’s meaning is to be gathered from the entire document and not from its isolated parts. [Cases: Contracts 143.5; Evidence 448. C.J.S. Contracts § 314.] 2. The principle that no extraneous evidence should be used to interpret an unambiguous document. Cf. PAROL-EVIDENCE RULE. [Cases: Evidence 448. C.J.S. Evidence
eight-corners rule. Insurance. The principle that a liability insurer’s duty to defend its insured — generally triggered if the plaintiff’s claims against the insured are within the policy’s coverage — is assessed by reviewing the claims asserted in the plaintiff’s complaint, without reference to matters outside the four corners of the complaint plus the four
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Contracts. The common-law principle that a writing intended by the parties to be a final embodiment of their agreement cannot be modified by evidence of earlier or contemporaneous agreements that might add to, vary, or contradict the writing. • This rule usu. operates to prevent a party from introducing extrinsic evidence of negotiations that occurred
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