After-acquired evidence is a legal concept that refers to evidence that a business or individual obtains after an incident of potential wrongdoing has occurred. This evidence may then be used to establish facts relevant to the claim or investigation.
Uses for After-Acquired Evidence
Businesses typically use after-acquired evidence in one of two ways: either to try to establish facts that are beneficial or supportive to the business’s claim or to provide facts that are glaringly contradictive to the claim or the facts alleged. In either case, after-acquired evidence can be incredibly useful in providing a clear picture of how an incident occurred or why certain behavior should have been expected, and can be beneficial in establishing the truth or moving claims toward settlement.
Examples of After-Acquired Evidence in Action
For example, if an employee is accused of stealing from their employer, but the employer only finds out about the theft many days or weeks later, evidence the employer acquires after the incident may be used in a court case in order to prove whether the employee acted unlawfully or not. Similarly, if a customer claims product defects from an order they place, but the company only discovers those defects after the fact, the company may be able to use after-acquired evidence of the defect as a way to refute the customer’s claims.
The Benefits of After-Acquired Evidence
After-acquired evidence can be a powerful tool for businesses, as it provides a way to establish facts relevant to an incident or dispute in a more timely and accurate manner. Moreover, by using after-acquired evidence, businesses are able to demonstrate their commitment to uncovering the truth of a situation, which can be highly beneficial in a courtroom setting.