The Law Dictionary for Everyone
The term “fine” can be defined in several ways. For example, a fine can be a sum of money that is ordered to be paid as part of a punishment for an offense. This is the more common definition of the term. However, the term “fine” can also be used to describe a fee that is paid by a tenant […]
Read moreProperty damage is defined as some harm that is inflicted upon someone’s property as the result of another person’s negligence, willful destruction of that person’s property, or by an act of nature. Flooding caused by a hurricane is an example of property damage caused by an act of nature. Unlike damages that are incurred from acts of nature, damages that […]
Read moreThe term reasonable reliance refers to, in the law, a person’s belief in a fact, which any reasonable person would believe as well. Reasonable reliance has its place primarily in contract law, though it applies in other situations in which one person took another’s word as true. To explore this concept, consider the following reasonable reliance definition. Definition of Reasonable […]
Read moreThe term “probable cause” refers to the right that a police officer has to make an arrest, search a person or his property, or obtain a warrant. Probable cause requires that facts and evidence presented in a case are of the type that would lead any reasonable person to believe that the suspect had committed a crime. As an example […]
Read moreA nonsuit is a motion filed by a defendant to be released from a civil lawsuit, usually because the plaintiff has failed to pursue the lawsuit in a timely manner. In some jurisdictions, a nonsuit may be filed by a plaintiff to dismiss one or more defendants from a lawsuit while keeping others. The reason for doing this is to […]
Read moreThe term “ostensible agency” refers to the relationship that exists between two parties and that leads a person to believe that the first is an agent of the second, or vice versa. For example, ostensible agency would apply to a hospital worker who is employed by an outside contractor. For all intents and purposes, patients may believe that worker to […]
Read moreThe term nuisance lawsuit can refer to one of two types of lawsuits. The first is a tort lawsuit of the nuisance, which is a situation wherein the plaintiff claims that the defendant is causing a nuisance. The second is a frivolous lawsuit. A frivolous lawsuit involves a plaintiff bringing a lawsuit that serves as nothing more than a nuisance […]
Read moreAn objection is a type of protest made in court or during a deposition against a witness’ testimony, or a piece of evidence. For example, an objection may be invoked when a witness is giving testimony while on the stand. The motivation for an objection is the belief that introducing such evidence into the court record would be against the […]
Read moreThe term positive law refers to laws made by man that require some specific action. These are statutes, codes, and regulations that have been enacted by a legislature. By contrast, “natural law” refers to principles that are universal in society, governing moral acts. To explore this concept, consider the following positive law definition. Definition of Positive Law Noun Law enacted […]
Read moreThe Latin term obiter dicta means “things said by the way,” and is generally used in law to refer to an opinion or non-necessary remark made by a judge. In a legal ruling, made by a higher court, the actual decision becomes binding precedent. Remarks about such things as how the court came to its decision are not binding, and […]
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