KembaraXtra - Legal Terms - Sham Plea

A sham plea is another name for a false plea.

It refers to a defence or pleading that is not genuine and is advanced merely to delay proceedings, mislead the court, or avoid liability rather than to raise a legitimate legal issue.

A sham plea contains no real factual or legal substance and is not made in good faith.

Where a court concludes that a plea is merely a sham, it may strike out the pleading or refuse to allow the party to rely upon it.

The courts discourage sham pleas because they waste judicial resources and undermine the efficient administration of justice.