The Law Dictionary for Everyone
The term de minimis is a Latin expression that translates roughly to “pertaining to minimal things.” In the U.S. legal system, the term is used to refer to certain facts or issues that are so minor as to be undeserving of the court’s attention. In addition, de minimis is relevant to certain bond and securities income, as well as employee […]
Read moreConsequential damages are also known as “special damages,” and are damages that are not a direct result of an incident itself, but are instead consequences of that incident. An example of consequential damages would be a driver getting into a car accident because, instead of paying attention to the road, he was focused on another car accident that had just […]
Read moreThe term “bad faith” is used to describe a person’s intent to defraud or deceive. The person may be defrauding or deceiving himself or another person. The concept of bad faith is often associated with “double heartedness,” which essentially means that while a person is acting one way, his intentions are more sinister than they may appear on the surface. […]
Read moreThe phrase “breaking and entering” used to go hand in hand with burglary. If someone attempted to enter a building without permission, and with the intention of committing a crime, he could be charged with burglary, and breaking and entering was an element of the crime. Today, no “breaking” is required to charge someone with burglary. Any “entering” into a […]
Read moreThe term “at will employment” means that an employee can be fired at any time, and for any reason. There are, of course, exceptions to that rule, but generally, if the employer decides to terminate the employee’s employment, then the employee can do very little about it insofar as fighting the termination. Employers who hire employees “at will” do not […]
Read moreIn the law, a conspiracy refers to an agreement between two or more people to commit an unlawful act, or to deprive another person of his legal rights. The agreement to act must be moved toward a conclusion, whether or not it is actually accomplished. Plans made by a certain combination of people for unlawful or secret purposes may also […]
Read moreWhile perhaps not as well known as adoption of a child, adult adoption remains a legitimate practice. An example of adult adoption might occur if a mother reunites with her adult, biological child, and wants to change the birth certificate to reflect herself as the mother. Another example of adult adoption might occur if an adult child seeks out his […]
Read moreCongress sets its own salary by voting for or against pay raises. The 27th Amendment concerns pay increases and decreases for the members of Congress. For example, the 27th Amendment specifies that any changes made to members of Congress’ pay must take effect at the beginning of the term after the pay raise is voted in. Similarly, if their salaries […]
Read moreThe legal term assumpsit comes from the Latin assumere, meaning “he undertook.” It refers to a promise made to induce someone to engage in some act, or to pay something to another person. Assumpsit may be made orally, or in writing. This is a common-law concept that has to do with whether or not a contract was made, and whether […]
Read moreThe 7th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects the right of every American citizen to a trial by a jury of his peers in a civil court case. The writers’ objective in drafting this amendment as an addition to the Bill of Rights was to ensure that the government would not eliminate the practice of trial by jury. The major […]
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