Dictionary of Law
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action :: legal definition


Action - n. a lawsuit in which one party (or parties) sues another.

See also: cause of action lawsuit and Related Law Terms ↓


Related Law Terms

actionable :: adj. when enough facts or circumstances exist to m ... ction lawsuit malicious prosecution
amended complaint :: n. what results when the party suing (plaintiff or ... cause of action complaint demurrer
cause of action :: n. the basis of a lawsuit founded on legal grounds ... property. See also: element lawsuit
count :: n. each separate statement in a complaint which st ... also: cause of action common counts
deposition :: n. the taking and recording of testimony of a witn ... See also: deponent depose discovery
dismiss :: v. the ruling by a judge that all or a portion (on ... nst that party. See also: dismissal
estoppel :: n. a bar or impediment (obstruction) which preclud ... pel equitable estoppel estop laches
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
interpleader :: n. the procedure when two parties are involved in ... e claimants fight over it in court.
intervene :: v. to obtain the court's permission to enter into ... ntion joinder multiplicity of suits
intervention :: n. the procedure under which a third party may joi ... rvene joinder multiplicity of suits
joinder :: n. the joining together of several lawsuits or sev ... er misjoinder multiplicity of suits
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
jury fees :: n. the rather minimal amount paid each day to juro ... ees as a court cost. See also: jury
last clear chance :: n. a rule of law in determining responsibility for ... contributory negligence negligence
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
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
necessary party :: n. a person or entity whose interests will be affe ... o: indispensable party proper party
negligence :: n. failure to exercise the care toward others whic ... gence per se res ipsa loquitur tort
notice :: n. 1) information, usually in writing in all legal ... Thirty-day notice three-day notice
party :: n. 1) one of the participants in a lawsuit or othe ... y real party in interest respondent
proper party :: n. a person or entity who has an interest (financi ... lf. See also: necessary party party
quiet title action :: n. a lawsuit to establish a party's title to real ... opposition. See also: notice title
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
venue :: n. 1) the proper or most convenient location for t ... ion. See also: forum non conveniens
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 - A

a fortiori :: (ah-for-she-ory) prep. Latin for "with even strong ... rother Cain certainly is too young.
a priori assumption :: (ah-pree-ory) n. from Latin, an assumption that is ... when the reality is not so certain.
a.k.a. :: prep. abbreviation for "also known as" when someon ... nodgrass, a.k.a. "Snuffy the Snod."
ab initio :: prep. lawyer Latin for "from the start," as "it wa ... tart," as "it was legal ab initio."
abandon :: v. to intentionally and permanently give up, surre ... lso: abandoned property abandonment
abandoned property :: n. property left behind (often by a tenant) intent ... -use. See also: abandon abandonment
abandonment :: n. the act of intentionally and permanently giving ... : abandon abandoned property patent
abate :: v. to do away with a problem, such as a public or ... ty septic tank. See also: abatement
abatement :: n. 1) the removal of a problem which is against pu ... eneficiary in full. See also: abate
abduction :: n. the criminal taking away of a person by persuas ... g of children. See also: kidnapping
abet :: v. to help someone commit a crime, including helpi ... n the crime. See also: aid and abet
abeyance :: 1) n. when the owner- ship of property has not bee ... 2) legal jargon for "undetermined."
able-bodied :: adj. physically capable of working at a job or in ... of paying alimony or child support.
abortion :: n. the termination of pregnancy by various means, ... ed abortion continue in the future.
abrogate :: v. to annul or repeal a law or pass legislation th ... ons of a contract. See also: repeal
abscond :: v. 1) traditionally to leave a jurisdiction (where ... as in "he absconded with the loot."
absolute :: adj. complete, and without condition. ... j. complete, and without condition.
abstention doctrine :: n. when the Supreme Court refuses to exercise its ... being appealed from a state court.
abstract :: n. in general, a summary of a record or document, ... tract of judgment abstract of title
abstract of judgment :: n. a written summary of a judgment which states ho ... aying the debt. See also: levy lien