confession and avoidance
confession and avoidance. A plea in which a defendant admits allegations but pleads additional facts that deprive the admitted facts of an adverse legal effect. • For example, a plea of contributory negligence (before the advent of comparative negligence) was a confession and avoidance. — Also termed avoidance; plea in confession and avoidance; plea of confession and avoidance. [Cases: Pleading 130. C.J.S. Pleading § 197.]