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Most Popular Legal Definitions
nuisance
The unreasonable, unwarranted and/or unlawful use of property, which causes
inconvenience or damage to others, either to individuals and/or to the general
public.
underwrite
1) To agree to pay an obligation which may arise
from an insurance policy. 2) to guarantee purchase of all shares of stock or
bonds issued by a corporation. 3) to guarantee by investment in a business or
project.
assignment for benefit of creditors
method used for a debtor to work out a payment schedule to their creditor
through a trustee who receives directly a portion of the debtor's income on a
regular basis to pay the debtor's bills
descendant
person who are born of, or from children of, another are called that person's
descendants
beyond a reasonable doubt
part of jury's instructions in all criminal
trials; in which the jurors are told that they can only find the defendant
guilty if they are convinced "beyond a reasonable doubt" of his or her guilt;
sometimes referred to as "to a moral certainty," the phrase is fraught with
uncertainty as to meaning, however; criminal justice experts have concluded that
it would mean being 99% sure; in civil court to find someone liable they would
have to only take greater than 50% fault
sole proprietorship
A business by a single individual which is not
formally organized and for which the individual and the business are
indistinguishable in law.
murder
intentional homicide (the taking of another person's life), without legal
justification or provocation.
charge
1) In a criminal case, the statement of what crime the party is accused of. 2)
In jury trials, the oral instructions by the judge to the jurors just before the
jury begins deliberations. This
charge is based on jury
instructions submitted by attorneys on both sides and agreed upon by the trial
judge. 3) a fee for services.twinkie defense
a claim by a criminal defendant that at the time
of the crime he/she was of diminished mental capacity due to intake of too much
sugar.
complaint
an issue or formal statement brought against another individual or party