Material facts are the specific details of a case that are essential to the court’s decision. If you changed or removed one of these facts, the legal outcome of the case would likely change.
It is the “make or break” details—the core pieces of the story that prove whether a law was actually broken or a duty was owed.
Think of material facts using the “What If” Method: ask yourself, “What if this fact were different? Would the judge’s decision stay the same?” If the answer is no, the fact is material. E.g.
- Insurance (Risk):
- Material Fact: An applicant fails to disclose a pre-existing heart condition. This would change the insurer’s decision to provide coverage.
- Immaterial Fact: The applicant prefers tea over coffee. This has no bearing on health risk assessment.