(law) A legal complaint or an answer to a complaint which sets forth an excessive number of facts with no clear organization, and then asserts that those facts describe a cause of action or a defense.

Arguing that a particular case is an exception to a generally accepted rule, without justification and without a relevant basis.

present participle of plead the belly

plural of special pleading

(law, US) To invoke the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which protects witnesses from being forced to incriminate themselves.

Alternative spelling of plead the Fifth (both senses)

(historical) To attempt to use one's claimed pregnancy to avoid execution.

simple past tense and past participle of plead the belly

Third-person singular simple present indicative form of plead the belly

In an pleading manner; with pleas.