The Law Dictionary for Everyone
In today’s world, people engage in fun and exciting activities which, by their very nature, are risky, with the possibility of being injured. Water skiing, rock climbing, watching a baseball game, are all examples of activities that people happily take part in, knowing that they might be injured, or incur some type of property damage. Assumption of risk is a […]
Read moreAffirmative defense is a legal term that pertains to a defendant’s response to being accused of a certain crime. When an affirmative defense is used, the defendant is basically admitting he committed the crime of which he is accused, but is offering an explanation or justification for the incident. When successful, an affirmative defense can help reduce the defendant’s legal […]
Read moreThe term appurtenant refers to something that belongs to, or goes with something else. The appurtenant thing, or “appurtenance,” is less important than the property to which it belongs or is attached. The term appurtenant is commonly used in real estate law, but may have other uses as well. To explore this concept, consider the following appurtenant definition. Definition of […]
Read moreThe 9th Amendment of the United States Constitution is part of the Bill of Rights, and provides a blanket cover for all of the rights that should be afforded to the people, which may not be specifically listed in the U.S. Constitution. In simple terms, United States citizens have certain rights that cannot be violated, even if they are not […]
Read moreIn the legal system, the term privity refers to a connection between parties to a contract. This includes parties who have mutual interest in, or successive rights to, the same property. Privity is an important concept in contract law, which requires that there be a direct relationship, or “privity,” for one party to enforce a contract against another party. To […]
Read moreThe civil law term adversary proceeding relates to a lawsuit filed in relation to a bankruptcy case. A party may file an adversary proceeding in order to petition the court asking for relief on a specific matter that is related to, but separate from, the bankruptcy, and requires action by a judge. Such matters usually have to do with distribution […]
Read moreThe Latin term prima facie means “at first glance,” or “at first appearance,” and it is generally used to describe how a situation appears on initial observation. In the legal system, prima facie is commonly used to refer to either a piece of evidence which is presumed to be true when first viewed, or a legal claim in which enough […]
Read moreThe Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798 gave the U.S. government new powers where foreigners and immigrants were concerned. The acts made it more difficult for immigrants to gain citizenship and therefore to vote, while providing new governmental authority for deporting foreigners who were considered “dangerous to the peace and safety of the United States.” The Acts came about as […]
Read moreOn December 5, 1933, the 21st Amendment to the United States Constitution became the only constitutional amendment to repeal another amendment. This amendment revoked or abolished the 18th Amendment, which prohibited the production, transportation, and sale of alcohol in the United States. The 21st Amendment also has the distinction of being the only amendment ratified by state ratifying convention, rather […]
Read moreAge of consent is the age at which an individual is deemed legally competent to consent to engage in sexual activities. This minimum age varies by state, and having sex with someone under the age of consent is considered to be a criminal act. Some jurisdictions make allowances for minors engaging in sexual activities with each other, though there may […]
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