The Law Dictionary for Everyone
As a legal term, confidentiality refers to a duty of an individual to refrain from sharing confidential information with others, except with the express consent of the other party. There are rules and regulations which place restrictions on the circumstances in which a professional, such as a doctor or attorney, may divulge information about a client or patient, and other […]
Read moreCommon Law meaning Common law is a term used to refer to law that is developed through decisions of the court, rather than by relying solely on statutes or regulations. Also known as “case law,” or “case precedent,” common law provides a contextual background for many legal concepts. Common laws vary depending on the jurisdiction, but in general, the ruling […]
Read moreCivil union is a legally created relationship that is similar to marriage, though it provides protections and benefits only at the state level, as the federal government does not recognize such unions. The civil union was originally created by some states to afford a marriage-like institution for same-sex couples when marriage was not an alternative. Not all states recognize civil […]
Read moreThe Latin term respondeat superior, which translates as “let the master answer,” refers to a legal doctrine in which an employer may be held responsible for the actions of his employees, when the actions are performed “in the course of employment.” In order for respondeat superior to apply, there must be a clear employee-employer relationship established, as the principle does […]
Read moreThe Latin term res ipsa loquitur translates to “the thing speaks for itself,” and is used in the U.S. legal system to refer to a doctrine of law in which an individual is assumed to have been negligent because he had exclusive control over the incident that caused the injury or damages. This assumption may be made even without specific […]
Read moreBigamy is a legal term that refers to the condition of having more than one wife or husband at one time. Once a person is legally married, he or she must legally terminate that marriage before marrying another person. In the United States, the act of bigamy is a crime, and the marriage to the second spouse is subject to […]
Read moreA breathalyzer is a device used to estimate a person’s blood alcohol content using a breath sample. Although the word “Breathalyzer” is actually a brand name trademarked by the breath analyzer’s inventor, the term has since become a commonly used term to refer to all breath analyzation tests used in the field. Today, breathalyzer tests are commonly used by law […]
Read moreA bench warrant is an arrest warrant issued by a judge or court, most commonly when a defendant fails to appear at a scheduled court hearing. This is also known as a “Failure to Appear,” or “FTA,” warrant. When a bench warrant is issued, it gives law enforcement agencies the authority to detain the defendant and bring him to court […]
Read moreConcurrent powers refer to political powers that are shared by both the state and federal governments. A number of powers are given to the federal government by the U.S. Constitution, without barring those same powers to each individual state. Such powers as establishing a court system, taxation, and regulating elections are common examples of concurrent powers of federal and state […]
Read moreQui tam is a philosophy of law in the U.S. that allows individuals who “blow the whistle” on fraud against the government to receive all or part of the financial recovery received by the government. Qui tam refers to a civil lawsuit brought by a private individual, the “whistleblower,” against the company or individual who is believed to have engaged […]
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