No ‘Alternative Facts’ Allowed in Personal Injury Affidavits of Verification

by | Jan 24, 2017 | Personal Injury

Affidavits-of-Verification

So, apparently we now all live in a post-truth era where Donald Trump is the leader of the free world. However, unlike the new dawn heralded in by The Donald’s press secretary this weekend, the legal framework concerning ‘facts’ remains the same for you and I .

Evidence in Court must be the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth, or so help you. Certainly, no judge would take kindly to being told ‘alternative facts’ and woe betide the brave plaintiff or defendant who would try to wiggle their way out of disclosing something unfavourable to them with such an excuse.

In a personal injuries case, each document filed in court must be accompanied by an Affidavit of Verification. An affidavit is essentially written evidence as opposed to oral evidence that is presented in a Court, and both types of evidence are supported by the weight of it being given ‘under oath’. This process of verifying affidavits was introduced in the Civil Liability and Courts Act, 2004. Essentially at each stage of the process an affidavit must be filed on the court file to confirm that the facts and assertions made are true.

Sins of Omission

The rules also provide that the affidavit state the person swearing the affidavit is aware that it is an offence to make a statement in the affidavit that it is false or misleading in any material respect or that the person swearing the affidavit knows to be false or misleading. What is ‘material’ is for the judge to decide. The penalty is significant, punishable by a fine not exceeding €100,000 and/or a term of imprisonment not exceeding ten years. The purpose of these affidavits is to fix the evidence to be adduced by the person when the case comes to trial, so each side knows the case they have to meet. A case for personal injuries can be a tricky and complex business. It can be easy to stray from the truth into the realm of alternative facts, but the importance for the success of any personal injury case is that it is presented warts and all. Any deviation from the truth can go to the heart of the case and completely undermine the credibility of your case, not to mention lead to an adverse finding with all of the penalties that can bring.

Image Credit: Flickr

At Carmody Moran Solicitors our expert personal solicitors are on hand to advise you at each step of the way of your personal injury case and will give professional and expert advice that you can rely upon and trust. We know that bringing any case is stressful and that you need excellent and knowledgeable representation from advocates who you know will work hard to get you a successful outcome. For more information contact us here.

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Aileen Power
Aileen Power
16:36 10 Mar 23
Carmody Moran recently helped me with the sale of my home. Niamh, Caila and all the team were fantastic to deal with from start to finish. They explained everything so clearly, were extremely professional, efficient and always responded promptly. On top of that they were just such a friendly group of people to deal with. I would highly recommend them.
Guillaume Rachet
Guillaume Rachet
16:25 20 Jan 23
The client service was really great. Understanding, easy to deal with and reactive
Joe Marsh
Joe Marsh
17:59 26 Sep 22
We recently closed on a first time house purchase and we were very pleased with how the whole process was handled at Carmody Moran. They always responded clearly and promptly to the many queries I had along the way and were on the ball with following up issues with the sellers solicitors to keep the process moving.The reason I went with them originally over other options was because they gave a very clear breakdown for the charges and the quoted price we were given was transparent and easy to understand compared to other quotes I received.I will definitely use them again if the need arises and recommend them to my friends and family.
Kenneth Ohaa
Kenneth Ohaa
09:52 01 Sep 22
I got the keys to my new house a few weeks back. I cannot recommend Carmody Moran Solicitors highly enough. It was a bit lengthy as I was buying and selling at the same time. In such cases you need experienced and competent solicitors such as Carmody Moran Solicitors.Stephanie and Helen were a pleasure to work with. Very transparent and communicative. Also occasionally dealt with Lucy and Caila. They were brilliant as well.I would like to say Thank you to the entire Carmody Moran team.Kenneth
Salt Almighty
Salt Almighty
06:16 10 Aug 22
I needed a solicitor to arrange a mortgage, and they went above and beyond to help me !I would advise them to anyone
Andrew NEROH
Andrew NEROH
19:39 04 Jul 22
My partner and I recently made the acquisition of our first home and it was a lengthy and difficult process, due to the fact we were buying from a receiver.In such difficult cases, you will need a legal representation as competent and professional as Carmody Moran Solicitors on your side.We were primarily dealing with Stephanie who gave us regular updates, helped us understand what is happening and what to do. We felt our interest always came first which made every appointment with her something we looked forward to.We were also occasionally in contact with Lucy, Niamh and other brilliant members of the firm, all of whom provided an excellent level of support and knowledge in Stephanie's absence.I couldn't recommend Carmody Moran enough. I would like to give a heartfelt thank-you on behalf of myself and my partner to every one involved at the firm who helped us make our dream a reality. We will not hesitate to call upon your services again should the occasion arise.Andrew.
jonathan
jonathan
16:14 28 Jun 22
I would highly recommend Carmody Moran Solicitors. Niamh Moran and her team helped and supported me through the sale of my home. The transaction was dealt with efficiently and quickly. Every step was clearly explained from the Sale Questionnaire, Contract for Sale to Completion.
Herghelegiu Oana
Herghelegiu Oana
22:44 20 Jun 22
We just got the keys to our dream home 🏡 special thanks to Stephanie,Helen,Caila and Carmody Moran team.All the girls are very friendly and helpful.Stephanie was a pleasure to have you as our solicitor.Highly recommend!
Karolina Siwakowska
Karolina Siwakowska
20:00 28 Mar 22
We've just got the keys to our dream home and Carmody Moran has helped us with all the legal work. We've been dealing with Stephanie and Helen and they both have been great: friendly, professional and communicative. The whole process can be intimidating at times, but they've made sure to make it as easy as possible for us. They've represented us well. Highly recommended.
ciara daly
ciara daly
16:27 18 Feb 22
Anthony and his team went above and beyond for me, everything was always looked after and I was constantly kept in the loop for my RTA case. From phone calls to emails to dealing with insurers. Gave me great peace of mind that I chose the right solicitor and Anthony himself is a gentleman. I would highly recommend Carmody Moran Solicitors.
Cassandra Reyes
Cassandra Reyes
11:11 14 Jan 22
Tony is quick and responsive to me. Very professional and would definitely recommend to my family and friends.Thank you so much.
Martin Kinsella
Martin Kinsella
17:23 15 Dec 21
CarmodyMoran were a pleasure to deal with. I found them to be extremely helpful in all my queries and responded to me in a very personal and professional manner.
Marie Byrne
Marie Byrne
14:06 30 Nov 21
Anthony & Niamh are our family Solicitor, so had no hesitation when the decision was made to sell of our family home. They dealt with my dad in the most caring manner explaining everything in detail. I dealt with Helen Ryan and Stephanie Tierney. The response to every query was exceptional. An absolute pleasure to deal with. If they were unavailable Emma at reception would pass all messages on. It was a very positive experience and a fantastic team at Carmody/Moran Solicitors. Thank you. Marie Byrne
Jennifer Foley
Jennifer Foley
18:13 27 Nov 21
Excellent.I am a client of Carmody Moran for the last few years.Niamh is a lovely person she made a difficult and lengthy process easy and answered any questions in a timely manner, very approachable and thorough.With her guidance and experience I found her to be very professional and understanding of my position, every step of the process was explained to me without overwhelming me.I cannot speak highly enough of Niamh and her team.I am happy to recommend them to anyone.
Richard Lawrence
Richard Lawrence
13:04 02 Sep 21
Would highly recommend.Tony and his team were absolutely brillant dealing with my case.Tony made me feel comfortable from day one, he explained everything to me at all times . Any time I had questions about thing's there was no problem in picking up the phone or sending a email Tony always got back to me and answered my questions.Fantastic service.
Fran Carroll
Fran Carroll
18:10 10 Jun 21
Tony an his team are brilliant.Left no stone unturned.
We availed of Carmody Moran Solicitors for the sale of our property. Niamh and her team were very efficient, quick, easy to reach and, most importantly, proactive to solve issues and process the sale. Really happy with the service and a very good value for money. Highly recommend!
Annamay Rowan
Annamay Rowan
12:21 10 Mar 21
Would highly recommend Anthony Carmody as he was so supportive with me and my family's case. If you made contact he would ring or email you back that day and explain things in your language.
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Anant Batra
00:05 05 Feb 21
Fantastic experience dealing with Anthony. Excellent and quick communication. Would highly recommend!
Elvyra Petkeviciute
Elvyra Petkeviciute
15:43 02 Sep 20
Great service, efficient, proffesional, very responsive. Over all very happy with services.
Tracy Ankers
Tracy Ankers
11:22 02 Aug 20
Would highly recommend Anthony and his team .
Elaine McSweeney
Elaine McSweeney
10:01 31 Jul 20
Really pleased with the advice, help, communication and understanding that I received all the way through my case. A very personable and professional firm with the focus always on the client.
Maxine Hudson
Maxine Hudson
13:47 12 May 20
Would highly recommend. No nonsense straight to the point. Kept informed at all times during the process. Anthony and staff all great.
Mark Kelly
Mark Kelly
02:11 06 Feb 20
Great team to deal with, very professional, communication from them constantly was beyond amazing, nothing but great things to say for them, Tony went above and beyond for me, highly recommended A++ for there service, thank you again guys much appreciated.
Mick Giles
Mick Giles
15:50 09 Dec 19
My experience with this law firm was exceptional. Tony is a very professional man who gave me his time and opinion without over promising on the result. Honest and trustworthy - Highly recommend
david clarke
david clarke
17:01 02 Dec 19
Absolute pleasure working with the CM team. Highly professional, always helpful. Great communication and made the process as hassle free as possible. Highly recommended.
Matthew Canning
Matthew Canning
17:17 23 May 19
Streetfront Lawyers.
Alan Alyyan
Alan Alyyan
19:14 21 Jan 19
Professional Solicitors that you can depend on!
Vanja Jovanovic
Vanja Jovanovic
07:49 06 Jul 18
We have dealt with both, Niamh and Anthony. Very pleased with the level of service. Very professional and always there to answer any questions we had while guiding us through the process. Highly recommended
Bonnie B
Bonnie B
07:52 14 Jun 18
Great to deal with professional,patient and efficient. Big thanks to Niamh, Leanne and Camilla .
declan mcgrath
declan mcgrath
07:36 12 Jun 18
Great service from Niamh, Leanne and all the team at Carmody Moran. Thanks
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Phyllis Dalton
16:33 31 May 18
Our experience with Carmody Moran was very positive. They were very professional and always there on the phone if I ever needed anything. Great service.
Andrew Penrose
Andrew Penrose
23:57 24 May 18
We selected Carmody Moran to represent us. Great experience with Niamh and the crew after over a year engagement on property dealings have nothing but great things to say. Very professional, prompt to queries and very responsive. Highly recommended.
Paul Moran
Paul Moran
17:52 25 Feb 18
Professional but very friendly and courteous.
jingjing xu
jingjing xu
16:11 15 Jun 15
I went to Carmody after deciding to get a house. I found their work is detailed and very reliable. I will go again to them for next time legal service.
David McGowan
David McGowan
16:43 14 May 15
I went to Carmody Moran Solicitors after a car accident and needed injury claim advice, I was incredibly impressed and was kept well informed of how my claim was progressing.They were very straight forward and never set unrealistic time frames or over promising but delivered on everything, They were consummate professionals and I really can't thank them enough, I would highly recommend them to anyone and I will use them for any legal advice I may have in the future.
Terry Palmer
Terry Palmer
15:24 23 Apr 15
I have always found the service offered by Carmody Moran to be first rate and i would would have no hesitation in recommending them.
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