Dictionary of Law
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

wiretap :: legal definition


Wiretap - n. using an electronic device to listen in on telephone lines, which is illegal unless allowed by court order based upon a showing by law enforcement of "probable cause" to believe the communications are part of criminal activities. Use of wiretap is also a wrongful act for which the party whose telephones were tapped may sue the party performing the act and/or listening in as an invasion of privacy or for theft of information. A wiretap differs from a "bug," which is a radio device secretly placed in one's premises to listen in on conversations or to tape incoming calls without notice to the caller. The same rules of illegality and tort liability apply to "bugging."

See also: invasion of privacy probable cause and Related Law Terms ↓


Related Law Terms

agency :: n. the relationship of a person (called the agent) ... ondeat superior scope of employment
amended complaint :: n. what results when the party suing (plaintiff or ... cause of action complaint demurrer
arrest :: v. 1) to take or hold a suspected criminal with le ... anda warning probable cause warrant
comparative negligence :: n. a rule of law applied in accident cases to dete ... utory negligence damages negligence
consideration :: n. 1) payment or money. 2) a vital element in the ... t of a promise). See also: contract
conspiracy :: n. when people work together by agreement to commi ... d conspiracy. See also: conspirator
conspirator :: n. a person or entity who enters into a plot with ... of antitrust laws. (See conspiracy
controlled substance :: n. a drug which has been declared by federal or st ... those who have used the substances.
damages :: n. the amount of money which a plaintiff (the pers ... liquidated damages special damages
dangerous weapon :: n. any gun, knife, sword, crossbow, slingshot or o ... igence and possibly win a judgment.
direct and proximate cause :: n. the immediate reason damage was caused by an ac ... so: cause complaint proximate cause
fraud :: n. the intentional use of deceit, a trick or some ... audulent conveyance intrinsic fraud
implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing :: n. a general assumption of the law of contracts, t ... -long employment. See also: implied
in propria persona :: adj. from Latin "for one's self," acting on one's ... client and an ass for an attorney."
indictment :: n. a charge of a felony (serious crime) voted by a ... ictable offense preliminary hearing
injunction :: n. a writ (order) issued by a court ordering someo ... t. See also: injunctive relief writ
inquest :: n. 1) an investigation and/or a hearing held by th ... surrogate judge. See also: coroner
interrogatories :: n. a set of written questions to a party to a laws ... ing. See also: deposition discovery
invasion of privacy :: n. the intrusion into the personal life of another ... randeis. See also: right to privacy
last clear chance :: n. a rule of law in determining responsibility for ... contributory negligence negligence
liability :: n. one of the most significant words in the field ... bility joint tortfeasors negligence
manslaughter :: n. the unlawful killing of another person without ... laughter. See also: homicide murder
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
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 of the first part :: n. reference in a written contract to identify one ... ies another party to the agreement.
peremptory challenge :: n. the right of the plaintiff and the defendant in ... challenge for cause jury voir dire
probable cause :: n. sufficient reason based upon known facts to bel ... of Rights search search and seizure
promise :: 1) n. a firm agreement to perform an act, refrain ... so: consideration contract covenant
proximate cause :: n. a happening which results in an event, particul ... also: intervening cause negligence
request :: 1) v. to ask or demand a judge to act (such as iss ... n. the act of asking or demanding.
right to privacy :: n. the possible right to be let alone, in absence ... e also: invasion of privacy privacy
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
stop and frisk :: n. a law enforcement officer's search for a weapon ... h search and seizure search warrant
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
superseding cause :: n. the same as an "intervening cause" or "superven ... : intervening cause proximate cause
unreasonable search and seizure :: n. search of an individual or his/her premises (in ... e probable cause search and seizure
Workers' Compensation Acts :: n. state statutes which establish liability of emp ... rs' compensation insurance company.
wrongful death :: n. the death of a human being as the result of a w ... ual beneficiaries (family members).

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 - W

waive :: v. to voluntarily give up something, including not ... the other state). See also: waiver
waiver :: n. the intentional and voluntary giving up of some ... ssed on the record. See also: waive
wanton :: adj. 1) grossly negligent to the extent of being r ... sexually immoral and unrestrained.
ward :: n. 1) a person (usually a minor) who has a guardia ... ouncil district. See also: guardian
warrant :: 1) n. an order (writ) of a court which directs a l ... e search and seizure search warrant
warranty :: n. a written statement of good quality of merchand ... of the contract. See also: warrant
warranty deed :: n. a deed to real property which guarantees that t ... : grant deed quitclaim deed warrant
waste :: n. 1) any damage to real property by a tenant whic ... ch may include poisonous effluents.
watered stock :: n. shares of stock of a corporation which have bee ... . See also: corporation share stock
weight of evidence :: n. the strength, value and believability of eviden ... dence preponderance of the evidence
wet reckless :: n. a plea to a charge of reckless driving which wa ... conviction. See also: plea bargain
whiplash :: n. a common neck and/or back injury suffered in au ... r damages due to negligent driving.
white collar crime :: n. a generic term for crimes involving commercial ... committed by "blue collar" workers.
widow :: n. a woman whose husband died while she was marrie ... nefits traceable to the ex-husband.
widower :: n. a man whose wife died while he was married to h ... d to her and who has not remarried.
widow's election :: n. the choice a widow makes between accepting what ... nt and distribution succession will
will :: n. a written document which leaves the estate of t ... will and testament probate testator
will contest :: n. a lawsuit challenging the validity of a will an ... so: in terrorem clause probate will
willful :: adj. referring to acts which are intentional, cons ... r was willful." See also: willfully
willfully :: adv. referring to doing something intentionally, p ... on the property." See also: willful