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: 105
subrogor :: n. a person or entity that transfers his/her/its l ... ges. See also: subrogation subrogee
subrogee :: n. the person or entity that assumes the legal rig ... aid. See also: subrogation subrogor
negligence :: n. failure to exercise the care toward others whic ... gence per se res ipsa loquitur tort
comparative negligence :: n. a rule of law applied in accident cases to dete ... utory negligence damages negligence
negligence per se :: (purr say) n. negligence due to the violation of a ... riving. See also: negligence per se
subrogation :: n. assuming the legal rights of a person for whom ... also: negligence subrogee subrogor
gross negligence :: n. carelessness which is in reckless disregard for ... damages negligence punitive damages
contributory negligence :: n. a doctrine of common law that if a person was i ... : comparative negligence negligence
professional negligence :: n. See also: malpractice ... n. See also: malpractice
peer review :: n. an examination and evaluation of the performanc ... claiming damages due to negligence.
privileged communication :: n. statements and conversations made under circums ... See also: attorney-client privilege
permanent injury :: n. physical or mental damage which will restrict t ... ges. See also: permanent disability
permanent disability :: n. an injury which impairs the physical and/or men ... t injury Workers' Compensation Acts
professional corporation :: n. a corporation formed for the purpose of conduct ... rofessionals. See also: corporation
reasonable care :: n. the degree of caution and concern for the safet ... . See also: duty of care negligence
real property :: n. 1) all land, structures, firmly attached and in ... onal property real estate reversion
proximate cause :: n. a happening which results in an event, particul ... also: intervening cause negligence
property damage :: n. injury to real or personal property through ano ... l value. See also: damages property
passenger :: n. a rider who has paid a fare on a train, bus, ai ... also: common carrier guest statute
negligent :: adj., adv. careless in not fulfilling responsibili ... esponsibility. See also: negligence
mental anguish :: n. mental suffering which includes fright, feeling ... See also: damages mental suffering
malpractice :: n. An act or continuing conduct of a professional ... eed. See also: errors and omissions
malfeasance :: n. intentionally doing something either legally or ... sponsibility. See also: misfeasance
loss of use :: n. the inability to use an automobile, premises or ... ding or premises. See also: damages
misadventure :: n. a death due to unintentional accident without a ... me. See also: homicide manslaughter
mitigation of damages :: n. the requirement that someone injured by another ... he lease) to mitigate his/her loss.
omission :: n. 1) failure to perform an act agreed to, where t ... of contract negligence reformation
no fault insurance :: n: a type of automobile insurance required of car ... ling lawsuits. See also: negligence
reasonable speed :: n. the speed of an automobile determined to be low ... e speed limit. See also: negligence
pain and suffering :: n. the physical and mental distress suffered from ... l damages special damages suffering
rescue doctrine :: n. the rule of law that if a rescuer of a person h ... to the car grill. See also: damages
tort :: n. from French for "wrong," a civil wrong or wrong ... nce slander trespass wrongful death
toll :: v. 1) to delay, suspend or hold off the effect of ... bridge or take passage on a ferry.
superseding cause :: n. the same as an "intervening cause" or "superven ... : intervening cause proximate cause
suffering :: n. the pain, hurt, inconvenience, embarrassment an ... njury negligence pain and suffering
tort claims act :: n. a federal or state act which, under certain con ... . See also: Federal Tort Claims Act
tortfeasor :: n. a person who commits a tort (civil wrong), eith ... : joint tortfeasors negligence tort
wrongful death :: n. the death of a human being as the result of a w ... ual beneficiaries (family members).
Workers' Compensation Acts :: n. state statutes which establish liability of emp ... rs' compensation insurance company.
vicarious liability :: n. sometimes called "imputed liability," attachmen ... r or policeman. See also: liability
vehicular manslaughter :: n. the crime of causing the death of a human being ... gence manslaughter reckless driving
strict liability :: n. automatic responsibility (without having to pro ... bility negligence res ipsa loquitur
statute of limitations :: n. a law which sets the maximum period which one c ... ies. See also: demurrer laches toll
respondeat superior :: (rehs-pond-dee-at superior) n. Latin for "let the ... : agency agent negligence principal
loss of bargain :: n. the inability to complete a sale or other busin ... ned in a lawsuit. See also: damages
res ipsa loquitur :: (rayz ip-sah loh-quit-her) n. Latin for "the thing ... plex doctrine. See also: negligence
reckless disregard :: n. gross negligence without concern for danger to ... gard for safety. See also: reckless
restitution :: n. 1) returning to the proper owner property or th ... her a shorter sentence than normal.
right of way :: n. 1) a pathway or road with a specific descriptio ... s easement egress floating easement
standard of care :: n. the watchfulness, attention, caution and pruden ... of care foreseeable risk negligence
specific finding :: n. a decision on a fact made by a jury in its verd ... so forth. See also: special verdict
special damages :: n. damages claimed and/or awarded in a lawsuit whi ... . See also: damages general damages
severance :: n. 1) a separating by court order, such as separat ... le a potential claim for discharge.
reckless :: adj. in both negligence and criminal cases, carele ... so: careless negligent wet reckless
long-arm statute :: n. law which gives a local state court jurisdictio ... rt jurisdiction over the defendant.
direct and proximate cause :: n. the immediate reason damage was caused by an ac ... so: cause complaint proximate cause
disfigure :: v. to cause permanent change in a person's body, p ... . See also: damages general damages
diligence :: n. reasonable care or attention to a matter, which ... erver's attempt to locate someone).
dangerous weapon :: n. any gun, knife, sword, crossbow, slingshot or o ... igence and possibly win a judgment.
dangerous :: adj. unsafe, hazardous, fraught with risk. It can ... eapon's range. See also: negligence
due care :: n. the conduct that a reasonable man or woman will ... "reasonable" man or woman would do.
duty :: n. 1) a legal obligation, the breach of which can ... on imports. See also: duty of care
emotional distress :: n. an increasingly popular basis for a claim of da ... ar value upon it. See also: damages
emancipation :: n. freeing a minor child from the control of paren ... vorced parent to pay child support.
element :: n. 1) an essential requirement to a cause of actio ... of action crime general plan zoning
duty of care :: n. a requirement that a person act toward others a ... e also: negligence standard of care
culpable :: adj. sufficiently responsible for criminal acts or ... ons and thus should take the blame.
count :: n. each separate statement in a complaint which st ... also: cause of action common counts
breach of trust :: n. 1) any act which is in violation of the duties ... ise or confidence. See also: breach
care :: n. in law, to be attentive, prudent and vigilant. ... she is involved. See also: careless
bifurcate :: v. the order or ruling of a judge that one issue i ... is necessary. See also: bifurcation
attractive nuisance doctrine :: n. a legal doctrine which makes a person negligent ... ch make negligence harder to prove.
assumption of risk :: n. 1) taking a chance in a potentially dangerous s ... d be damaged or prove unprofitable.
careless :: adj., adv. 1) negligent. 2) the opposite of carefu ... See also: care negligence negligent
cause :: from Latin causa 1) v. to make something happen. 2 ... so: cause of action proximate cause
contingent fee :: n. a fee to a lawyer which will be due and payable ... epend on the outcome are unethical.
civil code :: n. in many states, the name for the collection of ... negligence lawsuits and practices.
civil :: adj. 1) that part of the law that encompasses busi ... also: civil liberties civil rights
cause of action :: n. the basis of a lawsuit founded on legal grounds ... property. See also: element lawsuit
errors and omissions :: n. short hand for malpractice insurance which give ... issions which amount to negligence.
foreseeability :: n. reasonable anticipation of the possible results ... e also: foreseeable risk negligence
joint tortfeasors :: n. two or more persons whose negligence in a singl ... : comparative negligence negligence
laches :: n. the legal doctrine that a legal right or claim ... , breach of contract, fraud, etc.).
joint and several :: adj. referring to a debt or a judgment for neglige ... ution contributory negligence joint
jaywalking :: n. walking across a street outside of marked cross ... jury to the jaywalker by a vehicle.
invitee :: n. a person who comes onto another's property, pre ... ail employees. See also: negligence
last clear chance :: n. a rule of law in determining responsibility for ... contributory negligence negligence
legal age :: n. the age at which a person is responsible for hi ... so: infancy juvenile court minority
answer :: n. in law, a written pleading filed by a defendant ... emurrer general denial verification
liable :: adj. responsible or obligated. Thus, a person or e ... al prosecution. See also: liability
liability :: n. one of the most significant words in the field ... bility joint tortfeasors negligence
legal duty :: n. the responsibility to others to act according t ... al injuries. See also: duty of care
intervening cause :: n. an event which occurs between the original impr ... cause negligence superseding cause
insurance :: n. a contract (insurance policy) in which the insu ... t clause Workers' Compensation Acts
gravamen :: n. Latin for "to weigh down," the basic gist of ev ... o: cause of action charge complaint
Good Samaritan rule :: n. from a Biblical story, if a volunteer comes to ... a lawsuit for millions of dollars.
general damages :: n. monetary recovery (money won) in a lawsuit for ... s exemplary damages special damages
foreseeable risk :: n. a danger which a reasonable person should antic ... reseeable. See also: foreseeability
guest :: n. 1) in general, a person paying to stay in a hot ... ce. See also: guest statute invitee
guest statute :: n. a state law which sets standards of care by the ... sked to be let out. See also: guest
injury :: n. any harm done to a person by the acts or omissi ... nction injunctive relief negligence
in pari delicto :: adv. (in pah-ree dee-lick-toe) Latin for "in equal ... e proof is that both were involved.
impute :: v. 1) to attach to a person responsibility (and th ... also. See also: vicarious liability
guilty :: adj. having been convicted of a crime or having ad ... on of guilt cop a plea plea bargain
loss :: n. 1) the value placed on injury or damages due to ... t and the income. See also: damages