The Law Dictionary for Everyone
Parol evidence specifically refers to oral testimony given in court, though the term is most commonly used in the context of contract law, where it refers to extraneous or superfluous evidence, such as an oral or written agreement that was not part of the original contract. The parol evidence rule states that once a written agreement has been signed by […]
Read moreMalfeasance is a broad term that describes conduct that is inherently wrong or unlawful. It is most commonly used in reference to actions by public officials or employees who have failed to perform the duties required of them by statute. This description of corruption or misconduct may be used in both civil and criminal legal actions. To explore this concept, […]
Read moreMegan’s Law is a federal law that requires information about convicted sex offenders to be made available to the public. The law was enacted in response to the 1986 murder of seven-year old Megan Nicole Kanka, after having been lured into her neighbor’s house and raped. The neighbor had previously been convicted of sexual molestation of a child. Following the […]
Read moreMedical malpractice is a legal term that refers to negligence by an act, or failure to act, by a doctor or other healthcare provider. When a medical professional’s treatment fails to meet the accepted standard within the medical community, and it causes injury to, or death of, the patient, it is considered to be malpractice. Medical malpractice is a very […]
Read moreMalicious prosecution it a legal term that refers to the filing of a civil or criminal case that has no probable cause, and is filed for some purpose other than obtaining justice. When such a case is decided in favor of the defendant, he may turn around and file a civil lawsuit against the plaintiff or prosecutor for malicious prosecution, […]
Read moreThe term loitering refers to lingering or hanging around in a public area without any apparent purpose for being there. In some areas loitering is illegal. Laws of each jurisdiction define how long a person might hang around before it is considered too long. If a person loiters with the intent to commit another crime, the charges can be more […]
Read moreA lease agreement is an arrangement, made between two parties, that allows one of those parties to use an asset belonging to the owner. Typically, lease agreements are used for rental properties, but they are also used for rentals of vehicles, household appliances, construction equipment, and other items. A lease agreement is a legal contract designed to protect both the […]
Read moreLibel meaning in law Libel is a legal term that refers to the making of false and malicious statements about a person in some type of print or writing. This can include false and malicious statements made in writing, printed on signs, or published on a public forum. Publishing defamatory statements or pictures through the media is also considered libel. […]
Read moreA lemon law is a civil law term that refers to a law that protects consumers when they purchase a vehicle or other item that fails to function as it should. Lemon laws provide people with a remedy if they purchase certain items that do not meet standards of performance expected of such an item. While technically, the term lemon […]
Read moreThe legal term exigent circumstances refers to a situation in which a law enforcement officer with a pressing need to enter a residence without a warrant, is allowed to do so without violating the resident’s constitutional rights against unreasonable search and seizure. This is because emergency circumstances often outweigh the need for a warrant. The Fourth Amendment to the U.S. […]
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