Dictionary of Law
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state action :: legal definition


State action - n. in federal Civil Rights Acts, dating back to 1875, any activity by the government of a state, any of its components or employees (like a sheriff) who uses the "color of law" (claim of legal right) to violate an individual's civil rights. Such "state action" gives the person whose rights have been violated by a governmental body or official the right to sue that agency or person for damages.

See also: civil rights and Related Law Terms ↓


Related Law Terms

abduction :: n. the criminal taking away of a person by persuas ... g of children. See also: kidnapping
abuse of discretion :: n. a polite way of saying a trial judge has made s ... partner's realistic ability to pay.
account stated :: n. a statement between a creditor or the person to ... ending on the state. See also: debt
acknowledgment :: n. the section at the end of a document where a no ... me leases and various other papers.
administrator :: n. the person appointed by the court to handle the ... e also: administer executor probate
adoption :: n. the taking of a child into one's family, creati ... the child are met. See also: adopt
American Civil Liberties Union :: n. a membership organization founded in 1920 to de ... rk, NY 10036; tel.: (212) 944-9800.
arrest :: v. 1) to take or hold a suspected criminal with le ... anda warning probable cause warrant
articles of incorporation :: n. the basic charter of a corporation which spells ... year's taxes. See also: corporation
Bill of Rights :: n. the first ten amendments to the federal Constit ... ved to the states or to the people.
chattel mortgage :: n. an outmoded written document which made a chatt ... ed by the property. See also: UCC-1
child custody :: n. a court's determination of which parent, relati ... pport custody divorce joint custody
civil :: adj. 1) that part of the law that encompasses busi ... also: civil liberties civil rights
civil law :: n. 1) a body of laws and legal concepts which come ... generic term for non-criminal law.
civil liberties :: n. rights or freedoms given to the people by the F ... nment. See also: civil civil rights
civil rights :: n. those rights guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, ... ill of Rights civil civil liberties
class :: n. in legal (not sociological) terms, all those pe ... nt is given. See also: class action
color of law :: n. the appearance of an act being performed based ... xtort payoffs to forget the ticket.
comity :: n. when one court defers to the jurisdiction of an ... of cases to which comity may apply.
constitution :: n. the fundamental, underlying document which esta ... ts common law constitutional rights
constitutional rights :: n. rights given or reserved to the people by the U ... e also: Bill of Rights constitution
copyright :: 1) n. the exclusive right of the author or creator ... plagiarism public domain trademark
corporation :: n. an organization formed with state governmental ... ation public corporation securities
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.
demurrer :: n. (dee-muhr-ur) a written response to a complaint ... demurrer. See also: motion pleading
descent :: n. the rules of inheritance established by law in ... on inheritance intestate succession
discrimination :: n. unequal treatment of persons, for a reason whic ... qual rights. See also: civil rights
disinherit :: v. to intentionally take actions to guarantee that ... rorem clause pretermitted heir will
domicile :: n. the place where a person has his/her permanent ... where its headquarters is located.
double jeopardy :: n. placing someone on trial a second time for an o ... that occurred thirty years earlier.
equal opportunity :: 1) n. a right supposedly guaranteed by both federa ... be so. See also: affirmative action
equal protection of the law :: n. the right of all persons to have the same acces ... laws." See also: due process of law
estoppel :: n. a bar or impediment (obstruction) which preclud ... pel equitable estoppel estop laches
extradition :: n. the surrender by one state or country of a pers ... ty. See also: fugitive from justice
extrinsic fraud :: n. fraudulent acts which keep a person from obtain ... it. See also: fraud intrinsic fraud
fair comment :: n. a statement of opinion (no matter how ludicrous ... amation libel public figure slander
fraud :: n. the intentional use of deceit, a trick or some ... audulent conveyance intrinsic fraud
grace period :: n. a time stated in a contract in which a late pay ... the contract, i.e. your insurance.
guest :: n. 1) in general, a person paying to stay in a hot ... ce. See also: guest statute invitee
hearsay rule :: n. the basic rule that testimony or documents whic ... interest dying declaration hearsay
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
jeopardy :: n. peril, particularly danger of being charged wit ... ar Evers. See also: double jeopardy
jurisdiction :: n. the authority given by law to a court to try ca ... Superior Court Supreme Court venue
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
life estate :: n. the right to use or occupy real property for on ... hter, Sadie, will own the property.
living will :: n. also called "a durable power of attorney," it i ... upport. See also: power of attorney
Miranda warning :: n. the requirement, also called the Miranda rule, ... me such a suspect? See also: rights
mortgage :: n. a document in which the owner pledges his/her/i ... losure notice of default trust deed
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
nominee :: n. 1) a person or entity who is requested or named ... ic office. See also: agent executor
not guilty :: n. 1) plea of a person who claims not to have comm ... t guilty by reason of insanity plea
notary public :: n. a person authorized by the state in which the p ... he state which appoints the notary.
notice :: n. 1) information, usually in writing in all legal ... Thirty-day notice three-day notice
power :: n. the right, authority and ability to take some a ... g legal rights and many other acts.
privileges and immunities :: n. the fundamental rights that people enjoy in fre ... t impinge on constitutional rights.
promissory note :: n. a written promise by a person (variously called ... lso: interest obligee obligor usury
proof :: n. confirmation of a fact by evidence. In a trial, ... doubt preponderance of the evidence
property :: n. anything that is owned by a person or entity. P ... rty real property separate property
qui tam action :: : (kwee tam) n. from Latin for "who as well," a la ... technical violations and/or errors.
real property :: n. 1) all land, structures, firmly attached and in ... onal property real estate reversion
remedy :: n. the means to achieve justice in any matter in w ... gment provisional remedy settlement
right :: 1) n. an entitlement to something, whether to conc ... e also: civil rights marital rights
right to privacy :: n. the possible right to be let alone, in absence ... e also: invasion of privacy privacy
rights :: n. 1) plural of right, which is the collection of ... evidence. See also: Miranda warning
sentence :: 1) n. the punishment given to a person convicted o ... ence restitution suspended sentence
service of process :: n. the delivery of copies of legal documents such ... by publication substituted service
special circumstances :: n. in criminal cases, particularly homicides, acti ... urant. See also: capital punishment
speedy trial :: n. in criminal prosecutions, the right of a defend ... hurt by the waiver. See also: trial
state of domicile :: n. the state in which a person has his/her permane ... orated. See also: domicile resident
statute of limitations :: n. a law which sets the maximum period which one c ... ies. See also: demurrer laches toll
substituted service :: n. accomplishing service (delivery) of legal docum ... ee also: service service of process
tenancy by the entirety :: n. joint ownership of title by husband and wife, i ... ee also: community property tenancy
tenancy in common :: n. title to property (usually real property, but i ... on. See also: joint tenancy tenancy
will :: n. a written document which leaves the estate of t ... will and testament probate testator

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 - S

said :: adj. a reference back to a thing that was previous ... automobile in a negligent manner."
sale :: n. transfer of something (and title to it) in retu ... contract forced sale sheriff's sale
salvage :: 1) v. to save goods. 2) n. payment to a person or ... which saves cargo from a shipwreck.
sanction :: n. 1) a financial penalty imposed by a judge on a ... ction." See also: contempt of court
satisfaction :: n. receiving payment or performance of what is due ... n contract satisfaction of judgment
satisfaction of judgment :: n. a document signed by a judgment creditor (the p ... ord. See also: abstract of judgment
satisfaction of mortgage :: n. a document signed by a lender acknowledging tha ... id off the debt. See also: mortgage
save harmless :: v. 1) also called hold harmless, to indemnify (pro ... . See also: hold harmless indemnify
savings and loan :: n. a banking and lending institution, chartered ei ... vings into the home finance market.
scienter :: n. Latin for "having knowledge." In criminal law, ... ents were lies and thus fraudulent.
scintilla :: n. Latin for "spark." Scintilla is commonly used i ... ark) upon which to base a judgment.
scope of employment :: n. actions of an employee which further the busine ... ter and servant respondeat superior
scrivener :: n. a person who writes a document for another, usu ... r practicing law without a license.
seal :: n. a device which creates an impression upon paper ... e "sealed," but that is rare today.
sealed verdict :: n. the decision of a jury when there is a delay in ... reconvenes. See also: jury verdict
sealing of records :: n. trial records and decisions which a judge order ... eep the terms from public scrutiny.
search :: v. 1) to examine another's premises (including a v ... e search and seizure search warrant
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
second degree murder :: n. a non-premeditated killing, resulting from an a ... t degree murder manslaughter murder