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

adjuster :: legal definition


Adjuster - n. an employee (usually a non-lawyer) of an insurance company or an adjustment firm employed by an insurance company to negotiate an early settlement of a claim for damages against a person, a business or public body (like a city). While a fair and responsible adjuster can serve a real purpose in getting information and evaluating the case for the insurance company, some adjusters try to make a settlement before the injured person has retained an attorney ("don't worry, we'll pay your bills. You don't need an attorney. He'll only confuse things."), get a statement from the injured without counsel, or delay the payout with the promise he/she will negotiate any reasonable demand, and then making an offer of payment that is absurdly low. Some insurance companies try to make the attorney deal with the adjuster, which is cheaper than sending the case to defense attorneys. Adjusters also represent the company in approving settlements.


Related Law Terms

abuse of discretion :: n. a polite way of saying a trial judge has made s ... partner's realistic ability to pay.
administrator :: n. the person appointed by the court to handle the ... e also: administer executor probate
agency :: n. the relationship of a person (called the agent) ... ondeat superior scope of employment
apparent authority :: n. the appearance of being the agent of another (e ... e also: agency ostensible authority
appearance :: n. the act of a party or an attorney showing up in ... neral appearance special appearance
arbitrator :: n. one who conducts an arbitration, and serves as ... he other two. See also: arbitration
attorney of record :: n. the attorney who has appeared in court and/or s ... eve have long since been completed.
attorney's work product :: n. written materials, charts, notes of conversatio ... ivileged communication work product
bail bond :: n. a bond provided by an insurance company through ... urned. See also: bail bail bondsman
bankruptcy :: n. a federal system of statutes and courts which p ... y proceedings trustee in bankruptcy
Bill of Rights :: n. the first ten amendments to the federal Constit ... ved to the states or to the people.
caption :: n. the first section of any written legal pleading ... to the exact format of the caption.
character witness :: n. a person who testifies in a trial on behalf of ... ases and civil cases such as fraud.
child custody :: n. a court's determination of which parent, relati ... pport custody divorce joint custody
coinsurance :: n. an insurance policy in which the insurance comp ... e insurance company share the risk.
contingent fee :: n. a fee to a lawyer which will be due and payable ... epend on the outcome are unethical.
contributory negligence :: n. a doctrine of common law that if a person was i ... : comparative negligence negligence
court :: n. 1) the judge, as in "The court rules in favor o ... cost and wait of full court trials.
criminal calendar :: n. the list of criminal cases to be called in cour ... e plea preliminary hearing sentence
cumis counsel :: n. an attorney employed by a defendant in a lawsui ... fendant be approved by the company.
defense attorney :: n. 1) the attorney representing the defendant in a ... lso: defendant plaintiff's attorney
endorsement :: (indorsement)n. 1) the act of the owner or payee s ... te. See also: negotiable instrument
escrow agent :: n. a person or entity holding documents and funds ... on local practice. See also: escrow
extradition :: n. the surrender by one state or country of a pers ... ty. See also: fugitive from justice
fictitious defendants :: n. when a party suing (plaintiff) is not sure if h ... are not permitted in federal cases.
file :: 1) v. to deposit with the clerk of the court a wri ... rrespondence and notes on the case.
final settlement :: n. an agreement reached by the parties to a lawsui ... rneys present. See also: settlement
fraud :: n. the intentional use of deceit, a trick or some ... audulent conveyance intrinsic fraud
general appearance :: n. an attorney's representation of a client in cou ... case. See also: special appearance
Good Samaritan rule :: n. from a Biblical story, if a volunteer comes to ... a lawsuit for millions of dollars.
grace period :: n. a time stated in a contract in which a late pay ... the contract, i.e. your insurance.
guarantee :: 1) v. to pledge or agree to be responsible for ano ... as some defect. See also: guarantor
guardian :: n. a person who has been appointed by a judge to t ... torship. See also: conservator ward
in personam :: adj. (in purr-soh-nam) from Latin for "directed to ... here. See also: in rem jurisdiction
indigent :: 1) n. a person so poor and needy that he/she canno ... person who is very poor and needy.
information and belief :: n. a phrase often used in legal pleadings (complai ... nswer complaint declaration perjury
insanity :: n. mental illness of such a severe nature that a p ... M'Naughten rule temporary insanity
insurance :: n. a contract (insurance policy) in which the insu ... t clause Workers' Compensation Acts
insured :: n. 1) the person or entity who will be compensated ... s go to others. See also: insurance
insurer :: n. an insurance company which agrees to pay someon ... lled a premium. See also: insurance
invasion of privacy :: n. the intrusion into the personal life of another ... randeis. See also: right to privacy
jurisdiction :: n. the authority given by law to a court to try ca ... Superior Court Supreme Court venue
jury :: n. one of the remarkable innovations of the Englis ... hallenge sequester venire voir dire
justice :: n. 1) fairness. 2) moral rightness. 3) a scheme or ... e appellate courts. See also: court
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
living will :: n. also called "a durable power of attorney," it i ... upport. See also: power of attorney
maker :: n. 1) the person who signs a check or promissory n ... : check payee payor promissory note
malpractice :: n. An act or continuing conduct of a professional ... eed. See also: errors and omissions
merger :: n. 1) in corporate law, the joining together of tw ... and taking one, and wife the other.
municipal court :: n. a lower court which usually tries criminal misd ... nd/or small claims. See also: court
negligence :: n. failure to exercise the care toward others whic ... gence per se res ipsa loquitur tort
no fault insurance :: n: a type of automobile insurance required of car ... ling lawsuits. See also: negligence
nolle prosequi :: (no-lay pro-say-kwee) n. Latin for "we shall no lo ... nocent and declared nolle prosequi.
non-contestability clause :: n. an insurance policy provision which requires th ... claim is made by the policyholder.
notice :: n. 1) information, usually in writing in all legal ... Thirty-day notice three-day notice
ostensible agent :: n. a person who has been given the appearance of b ... rent authority ostensible authority
plaintiff's attorney :: n. the attorney who represents a plaintiff (the su ... ee also: defense attorney plaintiff
power of attorney :: n. a written document signed by a person giving an ... y, as in a real estate transaction.
privileged communication :: n. statements and conversations made under circums ... See also: attorney-client privilege
product liability :: n. the responsibility of manufacturers, distributo ... e known. See also: warrant warranty
proof :: n. confirmation of a fact by evidence. In a trial, ... doubt preponderance of the evidence
prosecute :: v. 1) in criminal law, to charge a person with a c ... rney General prosecution prosecutor
remedy :: n. the means to achieve justice in any matter in w ... gment provisional remedy settlement
risk :: n. chances of danger or loss, particularly of prop ... so: assumption of risk risk of loss
service of process :: n. the delivery of copies of legal documents such ... by publication substituted service
settlement :: n. the resolution of a lawsuit (or of a legal disp ... ult in settlement. See also: settle
special appearance :: n. the representation by an attorney of a person i ... anged. See also: general appearance
statute of limitations :: n. a law which sets the maximum period which one c ... ies. See also: demurrer laches toll
subrogation :: n. assuming the legal rights of a person for whom ... also: negligence subrogee subrogor
subrogee :: n. the person or entity that assumes the legal rig ... aid. See also: subrogation subrogor
subrogor :: n. a person or entity that transfers his/her/its l ... ges. See also: subrogation subrogee
title :: n. 1) ownership of real property or personal prope ... ink slip real property title search
title insurance :: n. a policy issued by an insurance company guarant ... : chain of title title title search
title report :: n. the written analysis of the status of title to ... lso: abstract title title insurance
trial :: n. the examination of facts and law presided over ... at a hearing held at a later time.
vicarious liability :: n. sometimes called "imputed liability," attachmen ... r or policeman. See also: liability
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 - A

a fortiori :: (ah-for-she-ory) prep. Latin for "with even strong ... rother Cain certainly is too young.
a priori assumption :: (ah-pree-ory) n. from Latin, an assumption that is ... when the reality is not so certain.
a.k.a. :: prep. abbreviation for "also known as" when someon ... nodgrass, a.k.a. "Snuffy the Snod."
ab initio :: prep. lawyer Latin for "from the start," as "it wa ... tart," as "it was legal ab initio."
abandon :: v. to intentionally and permanently give up, surre ... lso: abandoned property abandonment
abandoned property :: n. property left behind (often by a tenant) intent ... -use. See also: abandon abandonment
abandonment :: n. the act of intentionally and permanently giving ... : abandon abandoned property patent
abate :: v. to do away with a problem, such as a public or ... ty septic tank. See also: abatement
abatement :: n. 1) the removal of a problem which is against pu ... eneficiary in full. See also: abate
abduction :: n. the criminal taking away of a person by persuas ... g of children. See also: kidnapping
abet :: v. to help someone commit a crime, including helpi ... n the crime. See also: aid and abet
abeyance :: 1) n. when the owner- ship of property has not bee ... 2) legal jargon for "undetermined."
able-bodied :: adj. physically capable of working at a job or in ... of paying alimony or child support.
abortion :: n. the termination of pregnancy by various means, ... ed abortion continue in the future.
abrogate :: v. to annul or repeal a law or pass legislation th ... ons of a contract. See also: repeal
abscond :: v. 1) traditionally to leave a jurisdiction (where ... as in "he absconded with the loot."
absolute :: adj. complete, and without condition. ... j. complete, and without condition.
abstention doctrine :: n. when the Supreme Court refuses to exercise its ... being appealed from a state court.
abstract :: n. in general, a summary of a record or document, ... tract of judgment abstract of title
abstract of judgment :: n. a written summary of a judgment which states ho ... aying the debt. See also: levy lien