Which term refers to a witness whose testimony is harmful to the case of the party who called them?

An adverse witness is a term used to describe someone whose testimony negatively impacts the case of the party that has called them to testify. This situation arises in legal contexts where a witness provides information or statements that do not support the attorney's narrative, possibly even contradicting it or revealing aspects that may harm their case.

In contrast, mitigating circumstances refer to factors that can lessen the severity or culpability of a situation or defense, while “ACTION” typically refers to a lawsuit or legal proceeding rather than the nature of a witness. An allegation is simply a claim or assertion made in a case, and it does not specifically address the impact of the witness’s testimony on the party that called them. Thus, the term "adverse witness" is specifically tailored to describe the role a witness may play in undermining the position of the party that has called them.