A
A mutual agreement between two sides in a civil lawsuit.
Settlement
Exempt from penalties
Immune
To give up some right
Waive
A child; a person under the age of adulthood, usually 18 or 21
Minor
Written laws enacted by legislatures
Statutes
The fee paid to an attorney based on the percentage of the sum the client is awarded or settles for in a lawsuit
Contingency fee
A court decision on a legal question that guides future cases with similar questions
Precedent
A lawsuit brought by one or more persons on behalf of a larger group
Class Action
A description of the person or organization, among many possible defendants, best able to pay damages and therefore most likely to be sued in a tort case
Deep pockets
Legally responsible
Liable
A breach of some obligation, causing harm or injury to someone; a civil wrong, such as negligence or libel.
Tort
The law that does not involve criminal matters, such as tort and contract law. This law usually deals with private rights of individuals, groups or businesses.
Civil Law
The person against whom a claim is made.
Defendant
A system in which court decisions establish legal principles and rules of law
Common law
Failure to exercise a reasonable amount of care in either doing or not doing something, resulting in the harm or injury to another person.
Negligence
The level of certainty and the degree of evidence necessary to establish proof in a criminal or civil proceeding
Standard of Proof
A court's decision in a civil case.
Judgement
In a civil case, the injured party who brings legal action against the alleged wrongdoer.
Plaintiff
Standard of proof in a civil suit, the burden of proof that a party must meet in order to win the lawsuit.
A party must provide evidence that is more convincing than the other sides evidence.
Preponderance of Evidence
Money asked for or paid by court order to a plaintiff for injuries or losses suffered.
Damages
What is done to compensate for an injury or to enforce some right
Remedy
An action taken deliberately to harm another person and/or his or her property
Intentional wrong
The legal responsibility for damage or injury even if you are not negligent.
Strict Liability
Legal responsibility; the obligations to do or not do something. the defendant in a tort case incurs liability for failing to use reasonable care, resulting in harm to the plaintiff.
Liability