Conclusive evidence clause: Difference between revisions

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Of course, as we well know, most [[indemnities]] are ''not'' well-crafted, but will be hopelessly vague, woolly, all-you-can-possibly-think-of affairs — just the kind of thing that ''isn’t''  “readily ascertainable”, at least not without the need for the a full adversarial process, with a day’s cross examination from Sir Jerrold Baxter-Morley, Q.C., to thrash them out.
Of course, as we well know, most [[indemnities]] are ''not'' well-crafted, but will be hopelessly vague, woolly, all-you-can-possibly-think-of affairs — just the kind of thing that ''isn’t''  “readily ascertainable”, at least not without the need for the a full adversarial process, with a day’s cross examination from Sir Jerrold Baxter-Morley, Q.C., to thrash them out.


What to do? Light-bulb moment! Have someone issue a [[certificate of indebtedness]]! Better still, have the counterparty agree, in advance, that it will  be conclusive of the amount owed! Brazen though this strategy seems, it must have worked for a time, because we now find conclusive evidence clauses a part of standard [[boilerplate]] in any kinds of financing document — even, entertainingly, those without [[indemnities]] — to the point where few people know what the provision is even for, and even fewer challenge it. Well, dear reader, now you do.
What to do? Light-bulb moment! Have someone issue a [[certificate of indebtedness]]! Better still, have the counterparty agree, in advance, that it will  be conclusive of the amount owed! Brazen though this strategy seems, it must have worked for a time, because we now find conclusive evidence clauses a part of standard [[boilerplate]] in any kinds of financing document — even, entertainingly, those without [[indemnities]] — to the point where few people know what the provision is even for, and even fewer challenge it. Well, dear reader, now you do, and you can!


Thus, you will see that tell-tale [[caveat]]: “in the absence of [[manifest error]]”: where the sum claimed was obvious and not really in dispute; the bank did certify it but a fly got in the typewriter or some such thing and they sent out a certificate containing obviously the wrong number. Well, clearly that’s not conclusive, right?
Thus, you will see that tell-tale [[caveat]]: “in the absence of [[manifest error]]”: where the sum claimed was obvious and not really in dispute; the bank did certify it but a fly got in the typewriter or some such thing and they sent out a certificate containing obviously the wrong number. Well, clearly that’s not conclusive, right?