special pleading: Meaning and Definition of

spe'cial plead'ing

Pronunciation: [key]
  1. pleading that alleges special or new matter in avoidance of the allegations made by the opposite side.
  2. pleading or arguing that ignores unfavorable features of a case.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.