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Dictionary of Law |
retraction :: legal definitionRetraction - n. 1) to withdraw any legal document in a lawsuit or other legal proceeding, or withdraw a promise or offer of contract. 2) in defamation, particularly libel, the correction of any untruth published in a newspaper or magazine or broadcast on radio or television, usually upon the demand of the person about whom the damaging false statement was made. A clear and complete retraction will usually end the right of the defamed party to go forward with a lawsuit for damages for libel. In most states a retraction must be demanded before the suit is filed in order to cure the problem without litigation. See also: defamation libel and Related Law Terms ↓ Related Law Termsad litem :: adj. legal Latin meaning "for the purposes of the ... of age. See also: guardian ad litemappeal :: 1) v. to ask a higher court to reverse the decisio ... ng, as in "he has filed an appeal." claim :: 1) v. to make a demand for money, for property, or ... the government, it is lawsuit time. complaint :: n. the first document filed with the court (actual ... g prayer service of process summons defamation :: n. the act of making untrue statements about anoth ... comment libel public figure slander fair 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 frivolous :: adj. referring to a legal move in a lawsuit clearl ... ing the courts to resolve disputes. innuendo :: n. from Latin innuere, "to nod toward." In law it ... See also: defamation libel slander jurisdiction :: n. the authority given by law to a court to try ca ... Superior Court Supreme Court venue jury fees :: n. the rather minimal amount paid each day to juro ... ees as a court cost. See also: jury laches :: n. the legal doctrine that a legal right or claim ... , breach of contract, fraud, etc.). lawsuit :: n. a common term for a legal action by one person ... See also: case cause of action suit legal age :: n. the age at which a person is responsible for hi ... so: infancy juvenile court minority 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 malicious prosecution :: n. filing a lawsuit with the intention of creating ... vor of the victim. See also: malice no fault insurance :: n: a type of automobile insurance required of car ... ling lawsuits. See also: negligence nominal damages :: n. a small amount of money awarded to a plaintiff ... had been damaged. See also: damages notice :: n. 1) information, usually in writing in all legal ... Thirty-day notice three-day notice process :: n. in law, the legal means by which a person is re ... service of process subpena summons promissory note :: n. a written promise by a person (variously called ... lso: interest obligee obligor usury proper party :: n. a person or entity who has an interest (financi ... lf. See also: necessary party party 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 quiet title action :: n. a lawsuit to establish a party's title to real ... opposition. See also: notice title reputation :: n. a person's good name, honor or what the communi ... See also: defamation libel slander request :: 1) v. to ask or demand a judge to act (such as iss ... n. the act of asking or demanding. 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 strike :: 1) v. to remove a statement from the record of the ... ing the business, factory or store. tort :: n. from French for "wrong," a civil wrong or wrong ... nce slander trespass wrongful death unlawful detainer :: n. 1) keeping possession of real property without ... Thirty-day notice three-day notice vexatious litigation :: n. filing a lawsuit with the knowledge that it has ... lous malicious prosecution sanction wrongful death :: n. the death of a human being as the result of a w ... ual beneficiaries (family members). 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 - Rrace to the courthouse :: n. slang for the rule that the first deed, deed of ... e also: deed judgment lien mortgageRacketeer Influenced Corrupt Organization (RICO) statue :: n. a federal law which makes it a crime for organi ... s to operate legitimate businesses. racketeering :: n. the federal crime of conspiring to organize to ... ("organized crime" or "the Mafia"). ransom :: 1) n. money paid to a kidnapper in demand for the ... ive. See also: abduction kidnapping rape :: 1) n. the crime of sexual intercourse (with actual ... See also: date rape statutory rape ratable :: adj. taxable according to value, such as an estate ... lue, such as an estate or property. ratification :: n. confirmation of an action which was not pre-app ... mployee). See also: agent principal ratify :: v. to confirm and adopt the act of another even th ... ligation. See also: agent principal rational basis :: n. a test of constitutionality of a statute, askin ... imate and constitutional objective. ready, willing and able :: adj. fully prepared to act, as in performing a con ... o act, as in performing a contract. real estate :: n. land, improvements and buildings thereon, inclu ... the future. See also: real property real estate investment trust :: n. nicknamed REIT, a real estate investment organi ... its upon sale-if there is a profit. real party in interest :: n. the person or entity who will benefit from a la ... st is the beneficiary of the trust. real property :: n. 1) all land, structures, firmly attached and in ... onal property real estate reversion realty :: n. a short form of "real estate." See also: real e ... real estate." See also: real estate reasonable :: adj., adv. in law, just, rational, appropriate, or ... ost of other actions or activities. reasonable care :: n. the degree of caution and concern for the safet ... . See also: duty of care negligence reasonable doubt :: n. not being sure of a criminal defendant's guilt ... also: preponderance of the evidence reasonable reliance :: n. particularly in contracts, what a prudent perso ... the following:." See also: contract reasonable speed :: n. the speed of an automobile determined to be low ... e speed limit. See also: negligence |