What is a Stipulation in a Legal Case?

In the context of a legal case, a stipulation is an agreement between two parties (the plaintiff and the defendant) that certain facts or evidence will be accepted as true without needing to be proven through testimony or other evidence.

Stipulations can be used for a variety of purposes, such as:

1. Simplifying the trial process by avoiding the need for lengthy testimony or evidence on certain issues.
2. Saving time and money by reducing the amount of evidence that needs to be presented.
3. Avoiding disputes over certain facts or issues that are not central to the case.
4. Streamlining the trial by focusing on the most important aspects of the case.

Stipulations can be made orally during a pretrial conference or in writing through a stipulation agreement. Once a stipulation is made, it becomes part of the trial record and is binding on the court.

For example, in a personal injury case, the parties may stipulate that the plaintiff suffered a broken arm as a result of the defendant's negligence, rather than presenting evidence to prove this fact. This can simplify the trial process and save time and money for both parties.