affirmative defense

glossary / affirmative defense
A defendant’s assertion of facts and arguments that, if true, will defeat the plaintiff’s or prosecution’s claim, even if all the allegations in the complaint are true.

• The defendant bears the burden of proving an affirmative defense. Examples of affirmative defenses are duress (in a civil case) and insanity and self-defense (in a criminal case).

— Also termed plea in avoidance; plea in justification. Cf. negative defense. [Cases: Criminal Law 31; Federal Civil Procedure 751; Pleading 78. C.J.S. Criminal Law §§ 15, 46–49, 88, 93–94; Pleading §§ 160–161.]

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资深译员Lynn，知名国际商学院金融专业，专注翻译各种与贷款人责任及其他银行业与金融机构诉讼有关的法律文件。

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affirmative defense 〈美〉肯定性答辩；积极的答辩 指被告并不否认原告所主张之事实的真实性，而是提出其他的理由来说明为什么自己不应承担责任的答辩。因此，它并不反驳原告诉求之真实性，而只是否认原告在法律上有起诉的权利。根据联邦及大多数州的民事诉讼规则，所有的肯定性答辩都必须在应答书状〔responsive pleading〕即答辩状〔answer〕中提出，且被告对其所提之事由负证明责任。这些事由包括和解和清偿〔accord and satisfaction〕、自担风险〔assumption of risk〕、混合过失〔contributory negligence〕、胁迫〔duress〕、时效、不容否认〔estoppel〕等。在刑事诉讼中，构成肯定性答辩的事由包括精神失常、醉酒、自卫、无意识行为〔automatism〕、不在犯罪现场〔alibi〕、受胁迫等。

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