The Law Dictionary for Everyone
Following is the case brief for Katko v. Briney, 183 N.W.2d 657 (1971) Case Summary of Katko v. Briney: Defendants set up a spring gun to guard against people trespassing into their unoccupied farmhouse. Plaintiff broke into the house and was seriously injured by the spring gun. At trial, Plaintiff won a verdict of $20,000 actual, and $10,000 punitive, damages. Defendant […]
Read moreThe term “dram shop” is a legal term that refers to a type of business where alcoholic beverages are served to the public. Examples of dram shops include bars or taverns, and a “dram” is a measurement of a small amount of liquid, namely spirits. Thirty-eight of the 50 states in the U.S. follow the Dram Shop Act. The Dram […]
Read moreInvoluntary manslaughter is the unintended killing of a person while committing a crime, or acting in a reckless or negligent manner. This type of homicide is committed without malice or intent, even accidentally, and is considered a less serious crime than murder. To explore this concept, consider the following involuntary manslaughter definition. Definition of Involuntary Manslaughter noun. The unintentional killing […]
Read moreInformed consent is the act of agreeing to allow something to happen, or to do something, with a full understanding of all the relevant facts, including risks, and available alternatives. That full knowledge and understanding is the necessary factor in whether an individual can give informed consent. This type of consent applies to many situations in life, including making decisions about […]
Read moreThe term hit and run refers to an accident in which one driver leaves the scene without stopping to provide the required contact information, or being cleared to leave by authorities. Every driver involved in an accident of any type is required to follow certain procedures, which usually involve stopping to make sure nobody was injured, call for help, and […]
Read moreA car accident, also referred to as a “traffic collision,” or a “motor vehicle accident,” occurs when a motor vehicle strikes or collides another vehicle, a stationary object, a pedestrian, or an animal. While some car accidents result only in property damage, others result in severe injuries or death. There are many factors that can contribute to car accidents, and […]
Read moreIn 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 moreLoss of consortium is a civil law term that describes the loss suffered by an individual after his or her spouse has died or been injured due to another person’s wrongful, negligent, or intentional act. Damages may be awarded for loss of consortium in a civil lawsuit, for the purpose of compensating the surviving or uninjured spouse for the loss […]
Read moreIn the U.S., the term dram shop refers to bars, taverns, and other businesses that sell alcoholic beverages. A Dram Shop Act holds such businesses liable if they serve liquor to a person who is obviously intoxicated, or to a minor, who then causes injuries to another person. To explore this concept, consider the Dram Shop Act definition. Definition of […]
Read moreThe legal term punitive damages refers to a monetary award ordered by the court to be paid by a defendant to the plaintiff in a civil lawsuit. While it is common for a plaintiff to be awarded money to pay for a wrong committed by the defendant, such as money to pay medical bills, or for property damage, punitive damages […]
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