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Adverse inference
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<p>Adverse inference is a <a href="/facts/Law/luzxWkg0">legal</a> inference, adverse to the concerned party, drawn from silence or absence of requested <a href="/facts/Evidence_(law)/yS36XEI6">evidence</a>. It is part of evidence codes based on <a href="/facts/Common_law/vGVcW4Kf">common law</a> in various countries. </p><p>According to Lawvibe, "the 'adverse inference' can be quite damning at <a href="/facts/Trial/7mNT4FRG">trial</a>. Essentially, when <a href="/facts/Plaintiff/sabTkvcL">plaintiffs</a> try to present evidence on a point essential to their case and can't because the document has been destroyed (by the <a href="/facts/Defendant/t7ftlHvP">defendant</a>), the <a href="/facts/Jury/cJofrUeI">jury</a> can infer that the evidence would have been adverse to (the defendant), and adopt the plaintiff’s reasonable interpretation of what the document would have said...."[<i>better source needed</i>] </p>