The Law Dictionary for Everyone
The Latin term malum in se translates roughly to “wrong in itself,” or “evil in itself.” In the law, the phrase is used to refer to someone’s actions that are inherently wrong, or sinful by nature, regardless of regulations of laws. This is different from malum prohibitum, which refers to an act that is only wrong because it is prohibited […]
Read moreUnjust enrichment is a term used to describe a situation wherein one party benefits at the other party’s expense, in a situation the law considers to be unjust. Unjust enrichment is usually used to describe benefits that are received either accidentally or in error, but which have not been earned, and ethically should not be kept. Unjust enrichment is typically […]
Read moreLegal age is defined as the age at which a person is legally allowed to participate in adult activities, and becomes responsible for his affairs. Examples of legal age include the legal age of consent, the legal age for sex, and legal drinking age. There is also the legal working age, which is the minimum age someone must be to […]
Read moreAn appellant is someone who applies to a higher court to ask that court to review a decision that is made by a lower court. An appellant must show that he has sufficient grounds for an appeal, which are usually defined by the statute, in order to challenge a judgment. A plaintiff or a defendant in a lower court action […]
Read moreA legal brief is a document that makes an argument as to why the person filing the brief should win the case or otherwise see his motion granted. This document contains the issues in dispute, the facts of the matter, and arguments in support of the party’s position. A legal brief that is submitted with a motion can also be […]
Read moreThe term inverse condemnation refers to the taking or damaging of a person’s real property by a government entity, without payment of just compensation. This issue is related to the government’s responsibility under the Fifth Amendment’s eminent domain provision. In such cases, the property owner is faced with the prospect of suing the government in order to obtain compensation. To […]
Read moreA constructive trust is a legal concept created by the courts that describes the remedy that can be sought when a person holds the legal right to property that he should not be able to keep. This property is property that is illegally gained through fraud, wrongdoing, or some other kind of reprehensible behavior. The purpose of a constructive trust […]
Read moreThe legal term in propria persona is a Latin phrase that translates to mean “in his or her own person.” For example, in propria persona, in the field of law, means that a person is representing himself in a lawsuit, and is therefore giving the court jurisdiction over his case. The term is typically abbreviated to “in pro per,” and […]
Read moreGood cause is defined in the legal sense as a sufficient reason for a judge to make a ruling. The term “good cause,” however, is a broad one, and its definition depends upon the circumstances of each individual case. For instance, someone suffering from a serious illness may have good cause for requesting additional time from the court when he […]
Read moreWhen someone is acting in “good faith,” it means that he is acting with honest intent, and is expected to be honest and to keep his promises without taking advantage of someone else. It is also expected that he will not hold the other party to an impossible standard. Good faith is a necessary element in a variety of situations, […]
Read more