Which item cannot be used as evidence in a legal proceeding?

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Hearsay is any out-of-court statement offered to prove the truth of what it asserts. The reason it’s not usually admissible is that the person who made the statement isn’t under oath and isn’t available for cross-examination, so its reliability can’t be tested in court. That’s why hearsay cannot be relied on as evidence to prove the facts of the case, unless a recognized exception applies.

In contrast, your own testimony is first-hand, sworn evidence you can be cross-examined about, so it’s admissible. Inspection reports are documents created in the ordinary course of business and can be admitted as evidence if they’re properly authenticated and fall within appropriate exceptions (like business records). Complaints can also be admitted when they’re relevant and properly authenticated, and they may be used to show notices or patterns, again subject to rules and exceptions.

So, the statement that cannot be used as evidence to prove the matter asserted in general is hearsay, which is why it’s not admissible without a valid exception.