The Law Dictionary for Everyone
An injunction is a court order that compels an individual or entity to do, refrain from doing, or to stop doing, a specified thing. When filing a civil lawsuit, the plaintiff must specify what relief he is seeking from the court. Many civil lawsuits in the United States seek monetary compensation, or money damages. In some cases, however, money will […]
Read moreThe dictionary defines the word equitable as having the character of fairness or equity, or of being fair, reasonable, or just and right. As it applies to the law, equitable means much the same thing, though it is elevated to a principal by which judges decide how to settle disputes. The legal system of equity comes from the English common […]
Read moreA court reporter is a person that transcribes speech into written form. This is done in order to produce official transcripts at various legal proceedings. A transcriber may also be used in other official settings such as conferences or depositions at private law firms, or meetings or hearings at state agencies, trade associations, and non-profit organizations. To explore this concept, […]
Read morePart of the pre-trial discovery process, a party to a civil lawsuit, or his attorney, may set up a deposition to take the sworn testimony of the opposing party, a witness to the incident, or an expert witness. The actual deposition is a meeting which occurs outside the courtroom, usually at an attorney’s office, and is done before the trial […]
Read moreThe term real property refers to land, and any buildings, structures, and equipment permanently attached or fixed to the land. Ownership of real property also addresses ownership of whatever is growing on, or lies beneath the land. Often referred to as “real estate,” real property is one of the most important, and most lucrative, items bought, sold, and traded in […]
Read moreThe legal term dismissal refers to a ruling by a judge that the plaintiff’s lawsuit is thrown out. A dismissal is effective immediately on pronouncement by the judge, and no further evidence, testimony, or imploring will be heard. The judge has the power to dismiss a case at any point during the proceedings, before, during, or after a trial, if […]
Read moreA class action lawsuit is a civil legal action in which one or more individuals sue a person or entity on behalf of a larger group or class of people. Class action lawsuits are commonly used to address situations in which a large number of individuals have been injured or wronged by the defendant in the same manner. For example, […]
Read moreThe term “assets” refers to things owned by people or entities that have, or are expected to have, economic value. Assets can come in many forms including cash, bank accounts, investments, collectible items, personal possessions, and real property. The value of an individual’s or entity’s assets is offset by the amount of their debts, and comes into play when seeking […]
Read moreIn the legal system, a stipulation is an agreement made between two or more parties to a legal proceeding. Stipulations may be made prior to trial, or during a trial, as these agreements are made to regulate certain matters related to the proceeding, and are entered as part of the official court record. Often times, stipulations are used to assist […]
Read moreIn the legal system, an Order to Show Cause is a court order requiring an individual or entity to explain, justify, or prove something. In the U.S., courts frequently use orders to show cause to initiate a court proceeding that needs to be heard outside the usual schedule, such as when a temporary order is being sought. In these cases, […]
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