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Dictionary of Law |
slander :: legal definitionSlander - n. oral defamation, in which someone tells one or more persons an untruth about another, which untruth will harm the reputation of the person defamed. Slander is a civil wrong (tort) and can be the basis for a lawsuit. Damages (payoff for worth) for slander may be limited to actual (special) damages unless there is malicious intent, since such damages are usually difficult to specify and harder to prove. Some statements, such as an untrue accusation of having committed a crime, having a loathsome disease or being unable to perform one's occupation, are treated as slander per se since the harm and malice are obvious and therefore usually result in general and even punitive damage recovery by the person harmed. Words spoken over the air on television or radio are treated as libel (written defamation) and not slander on the theory that broadcasting reaches a large audience as much as if not more than printed publications. See also: defamation fair comment and Related Law Terms ↓ Related Law Termsadministrator :: n. the person appointed by the court to handle the ... e also: administer executor probatecare :: n. in law, to be attentive, prudent and vigilant. ... she is involved. See also: careless contributory negligence :: n. a doctrine of common law that if a person was i ... : comparative negligence negligence dangerous weapon :: n. any gun, knife, sword, crossbow, slingshot or o ... igence and possibly win a judgment. defamation :: n. the act of making untrue statements about anoth ... comment libel public figure slander disfigure :: v. to cause permanent change in a person's body, p ... . See also: damages general damages fair comment :: n. a statement of opinion (no matter how ludicrous ... amation libel public figure slander fictitious defendants :: n. when a party suing (plaintiff) is not sure if h ... are not permitted in federal cases. fraud :: n. the intentional use of deceit, a trick or some ... audulent conveyance intrinsic fraud gift in contemplation of death :: n. (called a gift causa mortis by lawyers showing ... ift tax unified estate and gift tax hit and run :: n. the crime of a driver of a vehicle who is invol ... , and then walks back to the scene. injury :: n. any harm done to a person by the acts or omissi ... nction injunctive relief negligence innuendo :: n. from Latin innuere, "to nod toward." In law it ... See also: defamation libel slander insanity :: n. mental illness of such a severe nature that a p ... M'Naughten rule temporary insanity 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 malice :: n. a conscious, intentional wrongdoing either of a ... cution murder public figure slander 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 notice to quit :: n. the notice given by a landlord (owner) to a ten ... h-to-month notice unlawful detainer nuisance :: n. the unreasonable, unwarranted and/or unlawful u ... evening). See also: public nuisance person :: n. 1) a human being. 2) a corporation treated as h ... amages. See also: corporation party power of attorney :: n. a written document signed by a person giving an ... y, as in a real estate transaction. product liability :: n. the responsibility of manufacturers, distributo ... e known. See also: warrant warranty promissory note :: n. a written promise by a person (variously called ... lso: interest obligee obligor usury property damage :: n. injury to real or personal property through ano ... l value. See also: damages property public figure :: n. in the law of defamation (libel and slander), a ... See also: defamation libel slander publication :: n. 1) anything made public by print (as in a news- ... so: defamation libel notice slander rape :: 1) n. the crime of sexual intercourse (with actual ... See also: date rape statutory rape reputation :: n. a person's good name, honor or what the communi ... See also: defamation libel slander retraction :: n. 1) to withdraw any legal document in a lawsuit ... igation. See also: defamation libel self-defense :: n. the use of reasonable force to protect oneself ... ndalism. See also: assault homicide service of process :: n. the delivery of copies of legal documents such ... by publication substituted service spontaneous exclamation :: n. a sudden statement caused by the speaker having ... et hit the girl." See also: hearsay statute of limitations :: n. a law which sets the maximum period which one c ... ies. See also: demurrer laches toll tort :: n. from French for "wrong," a civil wrong or wrong ... nce slander trespass wrongful death transferred intent :: n. in both criminal and tort (civil wrong) law, wh ... hit upon Truehart. See also: intent vicarious liability :: n. sometimes called "imputed liability," attachmen ... r or policeman. See also: liability 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 - Ssaid :: 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 |