1,193. Not Lying Even to Reach a Just Outcome

181:7 It's forbidden to make a false claim under any circumstances. Even if one knows that he is innocent and that if he speaks truthfully he will be found guilty, nevertheless he may not make a false claim. We see this in the Gemara (Shevuos 31a):

The Sages taught: how do we know that if one is owed 100 coins, he may not claim that he is owed 200 coins in order to force the borrower to take an oath, in which case he can also extract an incidental oath on another matter? Because the Torah says "keep far away from a false matter" (Exodus 23:7).

And how do we know that if one is owed 100 coins and he claims he is owed 200 that the borrower may not deny it in court even though he admits it to the lender privately in order to avoid having to take an oath in which the lender could extract an incidental oath on another matter? Because the Torah says "keep far away from a false matter."

And how do we know that if three people are owed 100 coins each from the same individual that one of them may not sue for the entire sum with the other two serving as witnesses so that they can collect the money and split it among them? Because the Torah says "keep far away from a false matter."

181:8 Sometimes the litigants choose people to arbitrate for them, either with or without a beis din. This is appropriate because each one will advocate in the interests of the one who appointed him so that a fair compromise will be made. This is the case as long as the arbitration was conducted properly and the advocates did not pervert the process. Just as we are warned not to make unfair judgments, we are not permitted to make unfair compromises.