Search Dictionary


Terms:

Browse Alphabetically (A-Z)

A  |   B  |   C  |   D  |   E  |   F  |   G  |   H  |   I  |   J  |   K  |   L  |   M  |   N  |   O  |   P  |   Q  |   R  |   S  |   T  |   U  |   V  |   W  |   X  |   Y  |   Z  |  

Most Popular Legal Definitions

sedition

The speaking or publishing of words which excite public disorder or defiance of lawful authority.

fiat

A shortly-worded court order.

crumbling skull rule

a legal theory, companion to the thin skull rule, which limits a tort defendant's exposure to a plaintiff's injuries to the plaintiff's condition at the time of the tort

administrative law

procedures created by administrative agencies involving rules, regulations, applications, licenses, permits, available information, hearings, appeals and decision-making.

actionable

When enough facts or circumstances exist to meet the legal requirements to file a legitimate lawsuit; if the facts required to prove a case cannot be alleged in the complaint, the case is not "actionable" and the client and his/her attorney should not file a suit; whether many cases are actionable is a matter of judgment and interpretation of the facts and law; if a case is filed which is clearly not actionable, it may result in a lawsuit against the filer of the original suit for malicious prosecution by the defendant after he/she has won the original suit.

dividend

A proportionate distribution of profits made in the form of a money payment to shareholders, by a for-profit corporation. Dividends are declared by a company's board of directors.

lemon laws

state laws the ensure a certain degree of quality to consumers when purchasing a car; generally, if repairs can not be made within a specific time constraint, the consumer is to be refunded or compensated for original purchase price 

cruelty

conduct that causes bodily or mental injury, or apprehension to such injury, to a person or an animal, without legitimate purpose

lis pendens

Latin, a dispute or matter which is the subject of ongoing or pending litigation.

principal

The person for whom an agent has received instruction and to whose benefit the agent is expected to perform and make decisions.