Dictionary of Law
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amended complaint :: legal definition


Amended complaint - n. what results when the party suing (plaintiff or petitioner) changes the complaint he/she has filed. It must be in writing, and can be done before the complaint is served on any defendant, by agreement between the parties (usually their lawyers), or upon order of the court. Complaints are amended to correct facts, add new causes of action (bases for the lawsuit), substitute discovered names for persons sued as "Does," or to properly plead a cause of action (the legal basis for suing) after the court has found the complaint inadequate.

See also: amend cause of action complaint demurrer and Related Law Terms ↓


Related Law Terms

action :: n. a lawsuit in which one party (or parties) sues ... . See also: cause of action lawsuit
amend :: v. to alter or change by adding, subtracting, or s ... mended pleading statute stipulation
amended pleading :: n. a changed written pleading in a lawsuit, includ ... o: amend amended complaint demurrer
Bill of Rights :: n. the first ten amendments to the federal Constit ... ved to the states or to the people.
but for rule :: n. one of several tests to determine if a defendan ... e damage. See also: proximate cause
cause of action :: n. the basis of a lawsuit founded on legal grounds ... property. See also: element lawsuit
clean hands doctrine :: n. a rule of law that a person coming to court wit ... ices. See also: affirmative defense
comparative negligence :: n. a rule of law applied in accident cases to dete ... utory negligence damages negligence
complaint :: n. the first document filed with the court (actual ... g prayer service of process summons
count :: n. each separate statement in a complaint which st ... also: cause of action common counts
cross-complaint :: n. after a complaint has been filed against a defe ... g prayer service of process summons
damages :: n. the amount of money which a plaintiff (the pers ... liquidated damages special damages
default :: 1) n. failure to respond to a summons and complain ... default judgment notice of default
demurrer :: n. (dee-muhr-ur) a written response to a complaint ... demurrer. See also: motion pleading
direct and proximate cause :: n. the immediate reason damage was caused by an ac ... so: cause complaint proximate cause
dismiss :: v. the ruling by a judge that all or a portion (on ... nst that party. See also: dismissal
element :: n. 1) an essential requirement to a cause of actio ... of action crime general plan zoning
estoppel :: n. a bar or impediment (obstruction) which preclud ... pel equitable estoppel estop laches
fictitious defendants :: n. when a party suing (plaintiff) is not sure if h ... are not permitted in federal cases.
gravamen :: n. Latin for "to weigh down," the basic gist of ev ... o: cause of action charge complaint
implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing :: n. a general assumption of the law of contracts, t ... -long employment. See also: implied
injunction :: n. a writ (order) issued by a court ordering someo ... t. See also: injunctive relief writ
last clear chance :: n. a rule of law in determining responsibility for ... contributory negligence negligence
lawsuit :: n. a common term for a legal action by one person ... See also: case cause of action suit
libel :: 1) n. to publish in print (including pictures), wr ... libel per se public figure slander
misjoinder :: n. the inclusion of parties (plaintiffs or defenda ... ent transactions. See also: joinder
motion for a summary judgment :: n. a written request for a judgment in the moving ... strict procedures. See also: motion
negligence :: n. failure to exercise the care toward others whic ... gence per se res ipsa loquitur tort
notice :: n. 1) information, usually in writing in all legal ... Thirty-day notice three-day notice
order to show cause :: n. a judge's written mandate that a party appear i ... vernmental agency. See also: O.S.C.
party :: n. 1) one of the participants in a lawsuit or othe ... y real party in interest respondent
peremptory challenge :: n. the right of the plaintiff and the defendant in ... challenge for cause jury voir dire
process :: n. in law, the legal means by which a person is re ... service of process subpena summons
quiet title action :: n. a lawsuit to establish a party's title to real ... opposition. See also: notice title
search and seizure :: n. examination of a person's premises (residence, ... robable cause search search warrant
search warrant :: n. a written order by a judge which permits a law ... ble cause search search and seizure
sounds in :: adj. referring to the underlying legal basis for a ... ause of action sounds in contract."
strike :: 1) v. to remove a statement from the record of the ... ing the business, factory or store.
summary adjudication of issues :: n. a court order ruling that certain factual issue ... is made. See also: summary judgment
summary judgment :: n. a court order ruling that no factual issues rem ... tion summary adjudication of issues
summons :: n. a document issued by the court at the time a la ... use service service of process writ
unreasonable search and seizure :: n. search of an individual or his/her premises (in ... e probable cause search and seizure
wiretap :: n. using an electronic device to listen in on tele ... invasion of privacy probable cause

Popular Law Searches

legal definition ministerial act :: n. an act, particularly of a governmental employee ... exercising any individual judgment.
chancery legal definition :: n. a court that can order acts performed. Today ch ... ts in most states. See also: equity
testamentary disposition legal definition :: n. how the terms of a will divide the testator's ( ... named beneficiaries. See also: will
contract of sufferance :: n. a "hold-over" tenancy after a lease has expired ... y tenancy at will unlawful detainer
forthwith legal definition :: adv. a term found in contracts, court orders and s ... mediacy, with no excuses for delay.
forthwith definition legal :: adv. a term found in contracts, court orders and s ... mediacy, with no excuses for delay.
what is to wit in a legal contract :: prep. that is to say. Example: "the passengers in ... tty Bumgartner and Sherry Younger."
mirror wills legal definition :: n. the wills of a husband and wife which are ident ... d each names the other as executor.
clean hands doctrine latin :: n. a rule of law that a person coming to court wit ... ices. See also: affirmative defense
sine qua non only relates to contract law :: (see-nay kwah nahn) prep. Latin for "without which ... qua non of the injury to Playmate.

Other Law Terms - A

a fortiori :: (ah-for-she-ory) prep. Latin for "with even strong ... rother Cain certainly is too young.
a priori assumption :: (ah-pree-ory) n. from Latin, an assumption that is ... when the reality is not so certain.
a.k.a. :: prep. abbreviation for "also known as" when someon ... nodgrass, a.k.a. "Snuffy the Snod."
ab initio :: prep. lawyer Latin for "from the start," as "it wa ... tart," as "it was legal ab initio."
abandon :: v. to intentionally and permanently give up, surre ... lso: abandoned property abandonment
abandoned property :: n. property left behind (often by a tenant) intent ... -use. See also: abandon abandonment
abandonment :: n. the act of intentionally and permanently giving ... : abandon abandoned property patent
abate :: v. to do away with a problem, such as a public or ... ty septic tank. See also: abatement
abatement :: n. 1) the removal of a problem which is against pu ... eneficiary in full. See also: abate
abduction :: n. the criminal taking away of a person by persuas ... g of children. See also: kidnapping
abet :: v. to help someone commit a crime, including helpi ... n the crime. See also: aid and abet
abeyance :: 1) n. when the owner- ship of property has not bee ... 2) legal jargon for "undetermined."
able-bodied :: adj. physically capable of working at a job or in ... of paying alimony or child support.
abortion :: n. the termination of pregnancy by various means, ... ed abortion continue in the future.
abrogate :: v. to annul or repeal a law or pass legislation th ... ons of a contract. See also: repeal
abscond :: v. 1) traditionally to leave a jurisdiction (where ... as in "he absconded with the loot."
absolute :: adj. complete, and without condition. ... j. complete, and without condition.
abstention doctrine :: n. when the Supreme Court refuses to exercise its ... being appealed from a state court.
abstract :: n. in general, a summary of a record or document, ... tract of judgment abstract of title
abstract of judgment :: n. a written summary of a judgment which states ho ... aying the debt. See also: levy lien