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Dictionary of Law |
lawsuit :: legal definitionLawsuit - n. a common term for a legal action by one person or entity against another person or entity, to be decided in a court of law, sometimes just called a "suit." The legal claims within a lawsuit are called "causes of action." See also: case cause of action suit and Related Law Terms ↓ Related Law Termsabeyance :: 1) n. when the owner- ship of property has not bee ... 2) legal jargon for "undetermined."abuse of discretion :: n. a polite way of saying a trial judge has made s ... partner's realistic ability to pay. action :: n. a lawsuit in which one party (or parties) sues ... . See also: cause of action lawsuit actionable :: adj. when enough facts or circumstances exist to m ... ction lawsuit malicious prosecution ad litem :: adj. legal Latin meaning "for the purposes of the ... of age. See also: guardian ad litem administrator :: n. the person appointed by the court to handle the ... e also: administer executor probate amended complaint :: n. what results when the party suing (plaintiff or ... cause of action complaint demurrer appeal :: 1) v. to ask a higher court to reverse the decisio ... ng, as in "he has filed an appeal." arrest :: v. 1) to take or hold a suspected criminal with le ... anda warning probable cause warrant authorities :: n. 1) previous decisions by courts of appeal which ... also: brief cite decision precedent bankruptcy :: n. a federal system of statutes and courts which p ... y proceedings trustee in bankruptcy 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 challenge for cause :: n. a request that a prospective juror be dismissed ... remptory challenge venire voir dire civil :: adj. 1) that part of the law that encompasses busi ... also: civil liberties civil rights civil calendar :: n. the list of lawsuits (cases) that are approachi ... y sent to trial. See also: calendar class :: n. in legal (not sociological) terms, all those pe ... nt is given. See also: class action complaint :: n. the first document filed with the court (actual ... g prayer service of process summons constructive notice :: n. a fiction that a person got notice even though ... personally. See also: constructive contractor :: n. 1) a person or entity that enters into a contra ... actor mechanic's lien subcontractor count :: n. each separate statement in a complaint which st ... also: cause of action common counts court :: n. 1) the judge, as in "The court rules in favor o ... cost and wait of full court trials. d.b.a. :: n. short for "doing business as," when a person or ... that is registered with the state. dangerous weapon :: n. any gun, knife, sword, crossbow, slingshot or o ... igence and possibly win a judgment. demurrer :: n. (dee-muhr-ur) a written response to a complaint ... demurrer. See also: motion pleading disfigure :: v. to cause permanent change in a person's body, p ... . See also: damages general damages 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 fraud :: n. the intentional use of deceit, a trick or some ... audulent conveyance intrinsic fraud frivolous :: adj. referring to a legal move in a lawsuit clearl ... ing the courts to resolve disputes. gravamen :: n. Latin for "to weigh down," the basic gist of ev ... o: cause of action charge complaint guardian :: n. a person who has been appointed by a judge to t ... torship. See also: conservator ward hearsay rule :: n. the basic rule that testimony or documents whic ... interest dying declaration hearsay implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing :: n. a general assumption of the law of contracts, t ... -long employment. See also: implied in personam :: adj. (in purr-soh-nam) from Latin for "directed to ... here. See also: in rem jurisdiction interest :: n. 1) any and all, partial or total right to prope ... nal property real property standing invasion of privacy :: n. the intrusion into the personal life of another ... randeis. See also: right to privacy jurisdiction :: n. the authority given by law to a court to try ca ... Superior Court Supreme Court venue jury :: n. one of the remarkable innovations of the Englis ... hallenge sequester venire voir dire laches :: n. the legal doctrine that a legal right or claim ... , breach of contract, fraud, etc.). last clear chance :: n. a rule of law in determining responsibility for ... contributory negligence negligence legal aid society :: n. an organization formed to assist persons who ha ... bar association. See also: pro bono liability :: n. one of the most significant words in the field ... bility joint tortfeasors negligence libel :: 1) n. to publish in print (including pictures), wr ... libel per se public figure slander litigious :: adj. referring to a person who constantly brings o ... e called "professional plaintiffs." living trust :: n. sometimes called an inter vivos (Latin for "wit ... thrift clause trust trustee trustor malpractice :: n. An act or continuing conduct of a professional ... eed. See also: errors and omissions 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 murder :: n. the killing of a human being by a sane person, ... premeditation second degree murder negligence :: n. failure to exercise the care toward others whic ... gence per se res ipsa loquitur tort no fault insurance :: n: a type of automobile insurance required of car ... ling lawsuits. See also: negligence notice :: n. 1) information, usually in writing in all legal ... Thirty-day notice three-day notice nuisance :: n. the unreasonable, unwarranted and/or unlawful u ... evening). See also: public nuisance 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 process :: n. in law, the legal means by which a person is re ... service of process subpena summons promissory note :: n. a written promise by a person (variously called ... lso: interest obligee obligor usury proper party :: n. a person or entity who has an interest (financi ... lf. See also: necessary party party qui tam action :: : (kwee tam) n. from Latin for "who as well," a la ... technical violations and/or errors. quiet title action :: n. a lawsuit to establish a party's title to real ... opposition. See also: notice title remote :: adj., adv. extremely far off or slight. Evidence m ... ee also: immaterial proximate cause retraction :: n. 1) to withdraw any legal document in a lawsuit ... igation. See also: defamation libel 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 service :: n. 1) paid work by another person, either by contr ... ersonal services service of process sounds in :: adj. referring to the underlying legal basis for a ... ause of action sounds in contract." state action :: n. in federal Civil Rights Acts, dating back to 18 ... for damages. See also: civil rights statute of limitations :: n. a law which sets the maximum period which one c ... ies. See also: demurrer laches toll strike :: 1) v. to remove a statement from the record of the ... ing the business, factory or store. suit :: n. generic term for any filing of a complaint (or ... "suit in equity." See also: lawsuit 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 trust :: n. an entity created to hold assets for the benefi ... testamentary trust trustee trustor unlawful detainer :: n. 1) keeping possession of real property without ... Thirty-day notice three-day notice vexatious litigation :: n. filing a lawsuit with the knowledge that it has ... lous malicious prosecution sanction will :: n. a written document which leaves the estate of t ... will and testament probate testator Popular Law Searcheslegal 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 - Llabor and materials :: (time and materials) n. what some builders or repa ... track of actual labor hours worked.laches :: n. the legal doctrine that a legal right or claim ... , breach of contract, fraud, etc.). land :: n. real property, real estate (and all that grows ... See also: real estate real property landlady :: n. female of landlord or owner of real property fr ... rents or leases. See also: landlord landlocked :: adj. referring to a parcel of real property which ... which it was created (carved out). landlord :: n. a person who owns real property and rents or le ... so: lease lessee lessor rent tenant landlord and tenant :: n. the name for the area of law concerning renting ... ord lease lessee lessor rent tenant landlord's lien :: n. the right of a landlord to sell abandoned perso ... to the ex-tenant and a public sale. lapse :: 1) v. to fail to occur, particularly a gift made i ... eficiary devisee legatee trust will larceny :: n. the crime of taking the goods of another person ... : grand larceny petty larceny theft last antecedent rule :: n. a doctrine of interpretation (construction) of ... o trucks and not boats or tractors. last clear chance :: n. a rule of law in determining responsibility for ... contributory negligence negligence last will and testament :: n. a fancy and redundant way of saying "will." Law ... writing another one. See also: will latent defect :: n. a hidden flaw, weakness or imperfection in an a ... warranty product liability warranty lateral support :: n. the right of a land- owner to assurance that hi ... support problems are less dramatic. law :: n. 1) any system of regulations to govern the cond ... um maritime law natural law statute law and motion calendar :: n. a court calendar in which only motions and spec ... special legal arguments are heard. law book :: n. any of numerous volumes dealing with law, inclu ... : common law law Shepardize statute law of admiralty :: n. statutes, customs and treaties dealing with act ... w. See also: Jones Act maritime law law of the case :: n. once a judge has decided a legal question durin ... he ruling is the "law of the case." |