Editing Fact (section)

===Legal pleadings===
{{Main|Pleading}}

A party (e.g., [[plaintiff]]) to a civil suit generally must clearly state the relevant allegations of fact that form the basis of a [[Claim (legal)|claim]]. The requisite level of precision and particularity of these allegations varies, depending on the rules of civil procedure and jurisdiction. Parties who face uncertainties regarding facts and circumstances attendant to their side in a dispute may sometimes invoke alternative pleading.<ref>Roy W. McDonald, "Alternative Pleading in the United States". ''Columbia Law Review'', Vol. 52, No. 4 (Apr. 1952), pp. 443–478</ref> In this situation, a party may plead separate sets of facts that when considered together may be contradictory or mutually exclusive. This seemingly logically-inconsistent presentation of facts may be necessary as a safeguard against contingencies such as ''[[res judicata]]'' that would otherwise preclude presenting a claim or defense that depends on a particular interpretation of the underlying facts and ruling of the court.<ref>McDonald 1952</ref>