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law
a body of rules enforced by a government
the rule of law
the concept that no one is above the law, and that no one can be convicted of breaking the law except as the law provides; all are subject to the same laws
contract
a legally enforceable promise or set of promises
breach of contract
a failure to fulfill contractual obligations
tort
a civil wrong other than breach of contract for which the law provides a remedy
negligence
an unintentional violation of a legal duty to use a standard of care
common law
a legal system of court-made law where the rules are derived from previously decided cases
stare decisis
the legal doctrine that requires courts to follow previous decisions called precedents
judicial review
doctrine that courts determine the constitutionality of statutes
cause of action
a stated set of facts giving rise to a valid lawsuit
plaintiff
the party which files a lawsuit against another party
defendant
the person against whom a lawsuit is filed
Natural law school
the theory that law comes from unchangeable principles evident from nature or inspired by God
traditional (historical) school
law which has worked in the past is best suited to shape present law
legal realist school
there is no uniform way to interpret the law; result oriented, considering the parties on the society
positivist school
government's rules are supreme
US Constitution
the supreme law of the land
statutes and treaties
acts of Congress and treaties entered by the President and approved by the Senate
administrative rules
laws adopted by administrative agencies
Case law
the law established by courts particularly in the areas of contract and tort law
uniform codes
statutory schemes compiled by experts to be adopted by state legislatures to help ensure consistency of the law in all the states
restatements
common law schemes compiled by experts to influence and encourage nationwide consistency
agencies
a unit of the executive branch regulating a certain area
independent agency
an agency designed to be free from the direct authority of the president or governor
executive agency
an agency whose head is directly subject to the president
criminal law
involves wrongs against society punished by the state through prosecution
civil law
involves wrongs against persons or entities enforced by lawsuits to obtain money or other remedies for the victims
substantive law
defines rights and duties
procedural law
defines the method or process by which violations of rights or duties will be enforced
origins of common law courts
a uniform set of laws derived from following precedents in England
origins of equity courts
created by the king because people whose problems could not be solved by common lawsuits would petition the king
adjudication
the process of litigation resulting in a binding final judgment
res judicata
"Its been decided"; an issue decided in one case between parties is binding upon the parties in another case betwe
class action
one or more members of a group of injured parties sues on behalf of the group
standing
a person needs a tangible interest in a lawsuit to sue or become a party
jurisdiction
"to speak the law" - the authority of a court to decide a case
proper venue
the place where a case may validly be decided under the law
adversary system
a trial system where the evidence where the evidence is presented by party opponents, rather than through questions of a judge
evidence
the testimony of witnesses and the documents and objects admitted to consideration as part of that testimony
Four levels of courts in order of priority
-supreme court -court of appeals -circuit court of county -courts of limited jurisdiction
Supreme Court
the highest appellate court in both the state and federal system
court of appeals
the intermediate appellate courts-typically the first court to which an aggrieved party may appeal
circuit court of county
the trial court general jurisdiction in which most important cases are filed
courts of limited jurisdiction
courts whose authority is limited by subject matter of the amount or the amount in controversy
personal jurisdiction
jurisdiction over the defendant
subject matter jurisdiction
jurisdiction over the type of lawsuit
federal court jurisdiction
federal courts have subject matter jurisdiction over cases which involve a question of federal law
diversity of citizenship
federal courts have jurisdiction over cases where the parties are from different states and the amount involved
state courts
have subject matter jurisdiction over all cases where there is not exclusive federal jurisdiction
exclusive jurisdiction
either a federal or state court is the only court which may here a case
concurrent jurisdiction
both the federal and state courts have jurisdiction over the type of case
arbitration
a binding process in which an arbitrator hears evidence and enters an enforceable decision
negotiation
an attempt by disputing parties to resolve their dispute informally, with or without attorneys present
mediation
a nonbinding process in which a mediator aids parties in negotiating a dispute
summary trial jury
a shortened trial before an unofficial jury which makes a nonbinding, advisory decision, often ordered by a judge in complex cases to help the parties settle the case
mini trial
a shortened trial before an unofficial judge, who makes a nonbinding decision
6 stages of a lawsuit
-pleadings -discovery -pre trial motions -trial -post trial motions -appeal
complaint
initiates the lawsuit; attempts to state one or more causes of action
default judgment
judgment on the issue of liability entered against a defendant who fails to appear or otherwise respond to a court order
counterclaim
defendant's pleading stating a cause of action against the plaintiff
discovery
the process of gathering information from parties or nonparties prior to trial
interrogatories
written questions sent to a party which must be answered in writing and under oath
request for admissions
written statements sent to a party which must be admitted or denied
request for production
a written request sent a party requiring the delivery of documents or objets at a specified place and time
deposition
an inperson oral examination of a party or a non party witness under oath
pretrial motions
motions filed in the case prior to the time trial begins
movant
the person who files a motion
motion to dismiss
a motion typically filed by the defendant, asking the court to throw out the petition
motion for summary judgment
a motion which may be filed by any party asking for a judgment based upon affidavits and the sworn evidence uncovered during discovery
voir dire
"to tell the truth"; the potential jurors are questioned under oath about bias or prejudice against or in favor of one of the partis
opening statement
a statement of the evidence the parties intend to present at trial
trial motions
filed in court during the trial
direct examination
questions by the party who calls the witness
cross examination
question by the other party
redirect examination
new questions to a party's witness to eliminate damage or confusion to the case caused by cross examination
closing arguments/summation
the opportunity of the parties' attorneys to summarize their case and all the inferences of the evidence and to make a logical or emotional argument to the jury
rebuttal by plaintiff
calling new witnesses to contradict the evidence produced by the defendant
post trial motions
motions filed after trial, seeking no change in the result
motion for new trial
a request that the court throw out the decision and grant the movant a new trial
motion for judgment nov
a request that the court throw out the judgement because based up on the evidence the jury's decision was legally invalid in that the plaintiff failed to produce evidence necessary to support the verdict
appeal
a request by an aggrieved party to an appellate court to change a trial court's decision
five phases of an appeal
1. notice of appeal, timely filled, initiates the appeal 2. trial record filed 3. parties brief issues 4. oral argument 5. decision
affirm
let the decision stand
reverse
throw out the decision or enter an opposite direction
tortfeasors
person committing a tort
joint and several liability
allows victim to collect total damages from one or from all joint tortfeasors
intent
purpose to do the act is all that is required-do not have to intend harm or results.
nonfeasance
failure to act
assault
an intentional act causing immediate expectation of injury or offensive contract to another person
battery
an intentional act causing another person injury or offensive contact
consent
when the victim agrees to the physical contact
self defense
the privilege to use the amount of force reasonably necessary to repel real or apparent danger
defense of others
the privilege to use the amount of force reasonably necessary to repel real or apparent danger to property
defense of property
the privilege to use the amount of force reasonably necessary to repel real or apparent danger to property
the castle doctrine
the ability to use deadly force to protect one's home when you are there and someone tries to enter without permission
false imprisonment
the intentional detention of another within boundaries for any length of time, with that person's knowledge and without consent
shopkeeper's privilege
a merchant with reasonable cause to suspect shoplifting may detain a suspect in a reasonable manner for a reasonable length of time
intentional infliction of emotional distress
an intentional act of extreme or outrageous nature causing extreme emotional distress
defamation
a publication of a defamatory, false statement of fact
absolute priviledge
statements made during government hearings are not proper cause for defamation lawsuit
conditional priviledge
statements made as a matter of defendant's business interest are not actionable unless made with actual malice
fraudulent misrepresentation
intentional misrepresentation of material fact, reasonably relied on by plaintiff, resulting in damages
trespass to land
intentional entry onto the land of another without permission
trespass to chattels
intentional damaging or deprivation of another's person's property
conversions
intentional retention or severe damaging of another's personal property
nuisance
the unjustified interference with the use or enjoyment of another's real estate
negligence
an unintentional violation of a legal duty to use standard of care
comparative negligence
the recovery of the plaintiff is reduced by the plaintiff's percentage of fault in causing the damages
contributory negligence
the recovery of the plaintiff is barred by any negligence of the plaintiff in causing damages
assumption of risk
the recovery of the plaintiff is barred if the plaintiff voluntarily encounters a known risk
sovereign immunity
can only sue the government if it gives you permission
official immunity
cannot recover from government officials if the act complained of involves a matter of policy and there was no malice by the official
employer liability
the employer is liable for torts of employee in scope and course of employment
strict liability
liability without fault, no need to prove an intentional or negligent act
ultra hazardous activity
an activity so abnormally dangerous that the actor is the guarantor of the safety
constitutional protections
protection against unreasonable search and seizure
right to remain silent
fifth amendment right not to be compelled to testify against yourself in a criminal trial
protection against double jeopardy
fifth amendment right a criminal defendant may not be tried twice for the same offense
right to counsel
sixth amendment right to have an attorney represent you if you are a criminal defendant
right to notice of charges
sixth amendment right to be informed of the exact criminal charge against you
right to confront witnesses
sixth amendment right to have witnesses testify in front of you and to cross examine the witness
right to speedy trial by witness
sixth amendment right to be tried quickly and to have a jury decide guilt or innocence
arrest
deprivation of freedom of movement by a police officer
indictment
a criminal charge filed by a grand jury
information
a criminal charge filed by a prosecutor
arraignment
formal reading of charges
plea bargaining
an agreement by the defendant to plead guilty in exchange for a lesser charge or a fixed punishment
disclosure
the process of gathering information prior to trial in a criminal case
habeas corpus
right to challenge basis for incarceration
actus reus
the unlawful act
mens rea
the required criminal intent
forgery
the fraudulent making or altering a document to change its legal effect
robbery
stealing from someone's person by force or threat of force
burglary
breaking and entering a building with the intent to commit a crime inside
larceny
a wrongful taking of another's property with the intent to permanently deprive the owner of it
embezzlement
misappropriating property entrusted to your possession for personal purposes
arson
burning a building of another or burning a building defraud insurance
money laundering
using a legitimate business to disguise the source of illegal profits
bribery
offering money or property to obtain in illegitimate political or commercial advantage

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