Dictionary of Law
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retraction :: legal definition


Retraction - 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 Terms

ad litem :: adj. legal Latin meaning "for the purposes of the ... of age. See also: guardian ad litem
appeal :: 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 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 - R

race to the courthouse :: n. slang for the rule that the first deed, deed of ... e also: deed judgment lien mortgage
Racketeer 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