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loss of consortium :: legal definition


Loss of consortium - n. the inability of one's spouse to have normal marital relations, which is a euphemism for sexual intercourse. Such loss arises as a claim for damages when a spouse has been injured and cannot participate in sexual relations for a period of time or permanently due to the injury, or suffers from mental distress, due to a defendant's wrongdoing, which interferes with usual sexual activity. Thus, the uninjured spouse can join in the injured mate's lawsuit on a claim of loss of consortium, the value of which is speculative, but can be awarded if the jury (or judge sitting as trier of fact) is sufficiently impressed by the deprivation.

See also: consortium damages and Related Law Terms ↓


Related Law Terms

casualty loss :: n. in taxation, loss due to damage which qualifies ... mage from water seepage or erosion.
claim :: 1) v. to make a demand for money, for property, or ... the government, it is lawsuit time.
conjugal rights :: n. a spouse's so-called "rights" to the comforts a ... r") in a special room or apartment.
consortium :: n. 1) a group of separate businesses or business p ... oney terms is a difficult question.
contributory negligence :: n. a doctrine of common law that if a person was i ... : comparative negligence negligence
damages :: n. the amount of money which a plaintiff (the pers ... liquidated damages special damages
emotional distress :: n. an increasingly popular basis for a claim of da ... ar value upon it. See also: damages
employee :: n. a person who is hired for a wage, salary, fee o ... ondeat superior scope of employment
insurance :: n. a contract (insurance policy) in which the insu ... t clause Workers' Compensation Acts
libel :: 1) n. to publish in print (including pictures), wr ... libel per se public figure slander
loss of bargain :: n. the inability to complete a sale or other busin ... ned in a lawsuit. See also: damages
loss of use :: n. the inability to use an automobile, premises or ... ding or premises. See also: damages
mitigation of damages :: n. the requirement that someone injured by another ... he lease) to mitigate his/her loss.
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
rape :: 1) n. the crime of sexual intercourse (with actual ... See also: date rape statutory rape
speculative damages :: n. possible financial loss or expenses claimed by ... future customers. See also: damages
statute of limitations :: n. a law which sets the maximum period which one c ... ies. See also: demurrer laches toll
vicarious liability :: n. sometimes called "imputed liability," attachmen ... r or policeman. See also: liability
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

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labor 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.
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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
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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."