Dictionary of Law
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contribution :: legal definition


Contribution - n. 1) donation to a charity or political campaign. 2) the sharing of a loss by each of several persons who may have been jointly responsible for injury to a third party, who entered into a business which lost money or who owe a debt jointly. Quite often this arises when one responsible party pays more than his share and then demands contribution from the others in proportion to their share of the obligation. Example: three partners own equal shares in a building from which a cornice falls and injures Bobby Hardhat. One partner pays the demand of $9,000 for Hardhat's injury; he is entitled to a contribution of $3,000 from each of his partners.


Related Law Terms

abstract of judgment :: n. a written summary of a judgment which states ho ... aying the debt. See also: levy lien
appeal :: 1) v. to ask a higher court to reverse the decisio ... ng, as in "he has filed an appeal."
bilateral contract :: n. an agreement in which the parties exchange prom ... also: contract unilateral contract
clean hands doctrine :: n. a rule of law that a person coming to court wit ... ices. See also: affirmative defense
commingling :: n. the act of mixing the funds belonging to one pa ... rust accounts for funds of another.
common area :: n. in condominium and some cooperative housing pro ... tage of total store space occupied.
contract :: 1) n. an agreement with specific terms between two ... n oral contract unilateral contract
damages :: n. the amount of money which a plaintiff (the pers ... liquidated damages special damages
default :: 1) n. failure to respond to a summons and complain ... default judgment notice of default
garnish :: v. to obtain a court order directing a party holdi ... ed. See also: garnishee garnishment
general partner :: n. 1) usually one of the owners and operators of a ... ted partnership partner partnership
guarantee :: 1) v. to pledge or agree to be responsible for ano ... as some defect. See also: guarantor
insurance :: n. a contract (insurance policy) in which the insu ... t clause Workers' Compensation Acts
joint and several :: adj. referring to a debt or a judgment for neglige ... ution contributory negligence joint
liability :: n. one of the most significant words in the field ... bility joint tortfeasors negligence
limited liability :: n. the maximum amount a person participating in a ... ted damages partnership shareholder
limited partnership :: n. a special type of partnership which is very com ... mited liability partner partnership
partner :: n. 1) one of the co-owners and investors in a "par ... ner limited partnership partnership
partnership :: n. a business enterprise entered into for profit w ... partnership partner silent partner
petition :: 1) n. a formal written request to a court for an o ... dent. See also: divorce motion writ
pro rata :: (proh rat-ah or proh ray-tah) adj. from Latin for ... e year in which he/she holds title.
reformation :: n. the correction or change of an existing documen ... neral partner sues for reformation.
request :: 1) v. to ask or demand a judge to act (such as iss ... n. the act of asking or demanding.
several liability :: n. referring to responsibility of one party for th ... n joint and several promissory note
statute of limitations :: n. a law which sets the maximum period which one c ... ies. See also: demurrer laches toll
surrebutal :: n. in written or oral legal argument, the response ... h until the judge stops the debate.
Workers' Compensation Acts :: n. state statutes which establish liability of emp ... rs' compensation insurance company.

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 - C

C.I.F. :: n. the total of cost, insurance and freight charge ... aid on goods purchased and shipped.
calendar :: 1) n. the list of cases to be called for trial bef ... clerk of the court calendars cases.
calendar call :: n. the hearing at which a case is set for trial. ... g at which a case is set for trial.
call :: n. the demand by a corporation that a stockholder ... assessment on shares already owned.
calumny :: n. the intentional and generally vicious false acc ... 's reputation. See also: defamation
cancel :: v. to cross out, annul, destroy, void and/or resci ... g, so that it cannot be used again.
cancellation :: cancel ... cancel
caning :: n. a punishment for crimes employed in certain Asi ... last century in the United States.
canon law :: n. laws and regulations over ecclesiastical (churc ... nduct with no religious connection.
cap :: n. slang for maximum, as the most interest that ca ... "adjustable rate" promissory note.
capital :: 1) n. from Latin for caput, meaning "head," the ba ... count capital assets stock in trade
capital account :: n. the record which lists all basic assets of a bu ... or the alleged value of good will.
capital assets :: n. equipment, property, and funds owned by a busin ... . See also: capital capital account
capital expenditure :: n. payment by a business for basic assets such as ... y intended to improve productivity.
capital gains :: n. the difference between the sales price and the ... so: basis delayed exchange exchange
capital investment :: capital expenditure ... capital expenditure
capital offense :: n. any criminal charge which is punishable by the ... . See also: bail capital punishment
capital punishment :: n. execution (death) for a capital offense. The U. ... or death. See also: capital offense
capital stock :: n. the original amount paid by investors into a co ... price. See also: corporation stock
capitalization :: n. 1) the act of counting anticipated earnings and ... for conversion into capital assets.