The Law Dictionary for Everyone
The legal term demurrer refers to a written response to a civil lawsuit which asks the judge to dismiss the case as, even if the facts complained of by the Plaintiff in the lawsuit were true, there is no legal basis for a lawsuit. A demurrer requires that a hearing be held so that both sides to the dispute may […]
Read moreInvasion of privacy is a legal concept dealing with intrusion into an individual’s private life. It is a tort that allows the person whose privacy was invaded to file a lawsuit against the person intruding upon his or her privacy. Laws governing the right to privacy do not treat all people the same, however, as public figures, such as politicians, […]
Read moreThe term bailment refers to the transfer of personal property to another person for safekeeping, or for the other person to control or use temporarily. A bailment is a form of contractual relationship, even if no contract has been signed. The person receiving the property (the “bailee”) has possession and control over the property for a specific period of time, […]
Read moreA gag order, also known as a “suppression order,” is an order made by a court or government official, restricting information from becoming public knowledge. In most cases, a gag order is issued by a judge for the purpose of preventing witnesses and jurors from obtaining information about the case outside court, to protect the integrity of the trial. On […]
Read moreTort law refers to the set of laws that provides remedies to individuals who have suffered harm by the unreasonable acts of another. The law of tort is based on the idea that people are liable for the consequences of their actions, whether intentional or accidental, if they cause harm to another person or entity. Torts are the civil wrongs […]
Read moreA witness is a person who testifies under oath at a trial, or in a deposition, regarding experiences of which he or she has personal knowledge. A witness gives a supervised recital of things he or she experienced, whether by sight, hearing, smell, or other sensory perception. A witness may voluntarily offer such information in a legal matter, or may […]
Read moreIn the modern legal system, the term precedent refers to a rule, or principle of law, that has been established by a previous ruling by a court of higher authority, such as an appeals court, or a supreme court. Courts in the U.S. legal system place a high value on making judgments based on consistent rules in similar cases. In […]
Read moreIn the practice of law, interrogatories are the most commonly method used in discovery, or in the effort to obtain information from an opposing party to a lawsuit. Interrogatories are written questions posed to the opposing party, for which a response is required, under conditions specified by the jurisdiction’s rules of court procedure. The individual who receives interrogatories in connection […]
Read moreIn its broadest definition, the term evidence refers to anything that is presented to prove something else is true or exists. In the legal system, evidence is any type of proof presented at trial, for the purpose of convincing the judge and/or jury that alleged facts of the case are true. This may include anything from witness testimony to documents, […]
Read moreThe legal term “damages” refers to a sum of money that may be awarded by a court of law to an individual or entity as compensation for property damage, a physical injury, or other loss caused by another person’s actions. Damages that a court may award are divided into two basic types, “compensatory,” and “punitive.” Compensatory damages return the plaintiff […]
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