Dictionary of Law
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Founded: 108
pleading :: n. 1) every legal document filed in a lawsuit, pet ... nswer complaint demurrer plea plead
motion to strike :: n. a request for a judge's order to eliminate all ... be unrung." See also: motion strike
motion for a summary judgment :: n. a written request for a judgment in the moving ... strict procedures. See also: motion
motion for dismissal :: (non-suit) n. application by a defendant in a laws ... otion for nonsuit. See also: motion
emotional distress :: n. an increasingly popular basis for a claim of da ... ar value upon it. See also: damages
motion for a new trial :: n. a request made by the loser for the case to be ... hstanding the verdict motion N.O.V.
motion :: n. a formal request made to a judge for an order o ... g, an oral motion may be permitted.
law and motion calendar :: n. a court calendar in which only motions and spec ... special legal arguments are heard.
amended pleading :: n. a changed written pleading in a lawsuit, includ ... o: amend amended complaint demurrer
motion to suppress :: n. a motion (usually on behalf of a criminal defen ... eshold." See also: motion in limine
motion in limine :: (lim-in-nay) n. Latin for "threshold," a motion ma ... o: in limine Miranda warning motion
promotional stock :: n. stock issued in a newly formed corporation and ... assets or money. See also: promoter
alternative pleading :: n. a legal fiction in which a party to a lawsuit o ... t the defendant committed the act).
plead :: v. 1) in civil lawsuits and petitions, to file any ... al conduct. See also: plea pleading
file :: 1) v. to deposit with the clerk of the court a wri ... rrespondence and notes on the case.
caption :: n. the first section of any written legal pleading ... to the exact format of the caption.
summary judgment :: n. a court order ruling that no factual issues rem ... tion summary adjudication of issues
demurrer :: n. (dee-muhr-ur) a written response to a complaint ... demurrer. See also: motion pleading
strike :: 1) v. to remove a statement from the record of the ... ing the business, factory or store.
summary adjudication of issues :: n. a court order ruling that certain factual issue ... is made. See also: summary judgment
rules of court :: n. a set of procedural regulations adopted by cour ... s counsel. See also: procedure rule
presiding judge :: n. 1) in both state and federal appeals court, the ... and chairs meetings of the judges.
sealing of records :: n. trial records and decisions which a judge order ... eep the terms from public scrutiny.
service :: n. 1) paid work by another person, either by contr ... ersonal services service of process
sanction :: n. 1) a financial penalty imposed by a judge on a ... ction." See also: contempt of court
promoter :: n. a person who puts together a business, particul ... y effort and not by assets or cash.
retrial :: n. a new trial granted upon the motion of the losi ... al or reversed by an appeals court.
removal :: n. 1) the change of a legal case from one court to ... a crime or successful impeachment.
rehearing :: n. conducting a hearing again based on the motion ... the judge or agency was just wrong.
quotient verdict :: n. an award of money damages set by a jury in a la ... rial motion for a new trial verdict
set aside :: v. to annul or negate a court order or judgment by ... "set aside" the original dismissal.
rape :: 1) n. the crime of sexual intercourse (with actual ... See also: date rape statutory rape
quash :: v. to annul or set aside. In law, a motion to quas ... s when the wrong person was served.
question of fact :: n. in a lawsuit or criminal prosecution, an issue ... also: finding judge question of law
procedure :: n. the methods and mechanics of the legal process. ... cases are tried and judgments made.
tax costs :: n. a motion to contest a claim for court costs sub ... sts" to avoid paying these charges.
on file :: prep. having been formally filed with the clerk of ... eading is "on file." See also: file
premises :: n. 1) in real estate, land and the improvements on ... t). See also: real estate structure
inter alia :: (in-tur eh-lee-ah) prep. Latin for "among other th ... ime to file the action had passed."
information and belief :: n. a phrase often used in legal pleadings (complai ... nswer complaint declaration perjury
in propria persona :: adj. from Latin "for one's self," acting on one's ... client and an ass for an attorney."
process :: n. in law, the legal means by which a person is re ... service of process subpena summons
review :: n. the judicial consideration of a lower court jud ... ate court reversal reversible error
verification :: n. the declaration under oath or upon penalty of p ... ed. See also: answer complaint oath
surplusage :: n. a term used in analyzing legal documents and pl ... ect and, therefore, can be ignored.
service of process :: n. the delivery of copies of legal documents such ... by publication substituted service
service by mail :: n. mailing legal pleadings to opposing attorneys o ... attorney by mail. See also: service
in haec verba :: (in hike verb-ah)prep. Latin for "in these words," ... ading. See also: complaint pleading
guilty :: adj. having been convicted of a crime or having ad ... on of guilt cop a plea plea bargain
amend :: v. to alter or change by adding, subtracting, or s ... mended pleading statute stipulation
allegation :: n. a statement of claimed fact contained in a comp ... sure of a fact. See also: complaint
trial :: n. the examination of facts and law presided over ... at a hearing held at a later time.
shortening time :: n. an order of the court in response to the motion ... e notice is served within 24 hours.
answer :: n. in law, a written pleading filed by a defendant ... emurrer general denial verification
attorney of record :: n. the attorney who has appeared in court and/or s ... eve have long since been completed.
exhibit :: n. 1) a document or object (including a photograph ... ncorporated into the main document.
cross-complaint :: n. after a complaint has been filed against a defe ... g prayer service of process summons
complaint :: n. the first document filed with the court (actual ... g prayer service of process summons
boilerplate :: n., adj. slang for provisions in a contract, form ... favor and/or protect the provider.
sexual harassment :: n. unwanted sexual approaches (including touching, ... emale employees. See also: nuisance
off calendar :: adj. refers to an order of the court to take a law ... of either party. See also: calendar
elder law :: n. a specialty in legal practice, covering estate ... t field. (definition revised: 9/02)
dismiss :: v. the ruling by a judge that all or a portion (on ... nst that party. See also: dismissal
discrimination :: n. unequal treatment of persons, for a reason whic ... qual rights. See also: civil rights
discovery :: n. the entire efforts of a party to a lawsuit and ... ee also: deposition interrogatories
error :: n. a mistake by a judge in procedure or in substan ... or. See also: harmless error remand
ex parte :: (ex par-tay, but popularly, ex party) adj. Latin m ... and place of any ex parte hearing.
final judgment :: n. the written determination of a lawsuit by the j ... : final decree interlocutory decree
fighting words :: n. words intentionally directed toward another per ... he basis for a lawsuit for assault.
exclusionary rule :: n. the rule that evidence secured by illegal means ... e poisonous tree motion to suppress
excessive bail :: n. an amount of bail ordered posted by an accused ... ppeal for reduction. See also: bail
diminished capacity :: n. essentially a psychological term which has foun ... See also: insanity M'Naughten rule
demonstrative evidence :: n. actual objects, pictures, models and other devi ... the trial judge. See also: evidence
calendar :: 1) n. the list of cases to be called for trial bef ... clerk of the court calendars cases.
brief :: 1) n. a written legal argument, usually in a forma ... another person. See also: precedent
after-discovered evidence :: n. evidence found by a losing party after a trial ... also: evidence writ of coram nobis
act :: 1) n. in general, any action by a person. 2) n. a ... ct on your motion for a new trial."
chambers :: n. the private office of a judge, usually close to ... s." See also: in camera in chambers
consortium :: n. 1) a group of separate businesses or business p ... oney terms is a difficult question.
criminal calendar :: n. the list of criminal cases to be called in cour ... e plea preliminary hearing sentence
crime of passion :: n. a defendant's excuse for committing a crime due ... dant. See also: manslaughter murder
continuing objection :: n. an objection to certain questions or testimony ... ional distress. See also: objection
consumer protection laws :: n. almost all states and the federal government ha ... rranty product liability securities
frivolous :: adj. referring to a legal move in a lawsuit clearl ... ing the courts to resolve disputes.
gender bias :: n. unequal treatment in employment opportunity (su ... statutes. See also: discrimination
notice :: n. 1) information, usually in writing in all legal ... Thirty-day notice three-day notice
N.O.V. :: adj. shorthand acronym of Latin for non obstante v ... notwithstanding the verdict verdic
multiplicity of suits :: n. several actual or potential lawsuits which shou ... e can order the cases consolidated.
move :: v. to make a motion in court applying for a court ... r judgment. See also: motion movant
abuse of discretion :: n. a polite way of saying a trial judge has made s ... partner's realistic ability to pay.
on the merits :: adj. referring to a judgment, decision or ruling o ... s if this mistake had not occurred.
person :: n. 1) a human being. 2) a corporation treated as h ... amages. See also: corporation party
peer review :: n. an examination and evaluation of the performanc ... claiming damages due to negligence.
paralegal :: n. a non-lawyer who performs routine tasks requiri ... h less than that for the attorneys.
open court :: n. the conduct of judicial proceedings (trials, he ... which are usually held in chambers.
movant :: n. the party in a lawsuit or other legal proceedin ... or judgment). See also: motion move
modification :: n. a change in an existing court order or judgment ... terms of child support and custody.
interlocutory decree :: n. a court judgment which is temporary and not int ... ppeared to waste the parties' time.
integration :: n. 1) adopting a writing as part of an agreement, ... , as well as racial mix in schools.
inspection of documents :: n. the right to examine and copy the opposing part ... evidence subpena duces tecum trial
in limine :: (in lim-in-ay) from Latin for "at the threshold," ... otion. See also: motion to suppress
joinder :: n. the joining together of several lawsuits or sev ... er misjoinder multiplicity of suits
joinder of issue :: n. that point in a lawsuit when the defendant has ... matters are to be decided by trial.
mistrial :: n. the termination of a trial before its normal co ... from the beginning. See also: trial
mental suffering :: n. emotional pain synonymous with "mental anguish. ... anguish." See also: mental anguish
meet and confer :: n. a requirement of courts that before certain typ ... s which are freighted with emotion.
jury stress :: n. a form of mental, emotional, psychological, phy ... do the right thing. See also: jury
petition :: 1) n. a formal written request to a court for an o ... dent. See also: divorce motion writ