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Dictionary of Law |
defamation :: legal definitionDefamation - n. the act of making untrue statements about another which damages his/her reputation. If the defamatory statement is printed or broadcast over the media it is libel and, if only oral, it is slander. Public figures, including officeholders and candidates, have to show that the defamation was made with malicious intent and was not just fair comment. Damages for slander may be limited to actual (special) damages unless there is malice. Some statements such as an accusation of having committed a crime, having a feared disease or being unable to perform one's occupation are called libel per se or slander per se and can more easily lead to large money awards in court and even punitive damage recovery by the person harmed. Most states provide for a demand for a printed retraction of defamation and only allow a lawsuit if there is no such admission of error. See also: fair comment libel public figure slander and Related Law Terms ↓ Related Law Termscopyright :: 1) n. the exclusive right of the author or creator ... plagiarism public domain trademarkfair 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 impeach :: v. 1) to discredit the testimony of a witness by p ... ve been found guilty by the Senate. innuendo :: n. from Latin innuere, "to nod toward." In law it ... See also: defamation libel slander 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 prior restraint :: n. an attempt to prevent publication or broadcast ... e words of Sir William Blackstone). privacy :: n. the right to be free of unnecessary public scru ... lso: public figure right to privacy 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 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 slander :: n. oral defamation, in which someone tells one or ... . See also: defamation fair comment 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 wrongful termination :: n. a right of an employee to sue his/her employer ... ing an employee's grounds for suit. 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 - DD.A. :: n. slang for District Attorney. ... n. slang for District Attorney.d.b.a. :: n. short for "doing business as," when a person or ... that is registered with the state. D.U.I. :: n. short for driving under the influence of alcoho ... ing under the influence of alcohol. D.W.I. :: n. 1) short for driving while intoxicated. 2) abbr ... for dying without issue (children). damages :: n. the amount of money which a plaintiff (the pers ... liquidated damages special damages dangerous :: adj. unsafe, hazardous, fraught with risk. It can ... eapon's range. See also: negligence dangerous weapon :: n. any gun, knife, sword, crossbow, slingshot or o ... igence and possibly win a judgment. date rape :: n. forcible sexual intercourse by a male acquainta ... physical resistance. See also: rape day in court :: n. popular term for everyone's opportunity to brin ... rt to protest his speeding ticket." de facto :: adj. Latin for "in fact." Often used in place of " ... ave not been met. See also: de jure de facto corporation :: n. a company which operates as if it were a corpor ... also: de facto de jure ultra vires de jure :: adj. Latin for "lawful," as distinguished from de ... also: de facto de jure corporation de jure corporation :: n. a corporation in good standing under the law, a ... also: de facto corporation de jure de minimis :: adj. (dee-minnie-miss) Latin for "of minimum impor ... deal, a $10 mistake is de minimis. de novo :: adj. Latin for "anew," which means starting over, ... n, de novo. See also: trial de novo deadly weapon :: n. any weapon which can kill. This includes not on ... See also: assault dangerous weapon dealer :: n. anyone who buys goods or property for the purpo ... ins taxes by buying other property. death penalty :: n. the sentence of execution for murder and some o ... rder and some other capital crimes. death row :: n. nickname for that portion of a prison in which ... o: capital punishment death penalty debenture :: n. a form of bond certificate issued by a corporat ... n shares of stock or general bonds. |