What must be proven to show fraud in a Louisiana contract?

To establish fraud in a Louisiana contract, it is necessary to demonstrate three key elements: false representation, intent to deceive, and justifiable reliance on that representation by the injured party.

False representation refers to a statement that is not true and is made with the intent that another party will rely on it. This misrepresentation can be in the form of an act, omission, or even an assertion that is not in accordance with the facts.

Intent is crucial in determining whether fraud has occurred; the party making the false representation must have the intent to deceive the other party. This means that the misrepresentation was made knowingly or with reckless disregard for the truth.

Justifiable reliance indicates that the injured party relied on the false statement in a way that was reasonable and justifiable. This means that the victim must have accepted the representation as true and acted upon it, resulting in some form of harm or loss.

Without establishing these three components, it is challenging to prove fraud in the context of Louisiana contract law. The other options do not encompass the essential elements of fraud as defined by law. Documented proof of coercion focuses on a different aspect of contract validity, while proof of verbal agreements and witness testimony may not sufficiently demonstrate the specific legal criteria needed to prove