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Most Popular Legal Definitions

disrate

A term of maritime law where an officer or other seaman is either demoted in rank or deprived of a promotion.

heat of passion

generally acts as a defense which argues that due to certain provocation of a mental state of fear, anger, or worry that enticed a specific action; used to lessen or remove a charge 

annuity

1) an annual sum paid from a policy or gift 2) short for a purchased annuity policy which will pay dividends to the owner regularly for years or for life

set off

A claim by a defendant in a lawsuit that the plaintiff owes the defendant money which should be subtracted from the amount of damages claimed by the plaintiff.

state law

in America, this refers to the jurisdiction of each state and the laws that govern their respective citizens in conjunction with national law as determined by independent state legislatures 

expropriation

In Canada, the forced sale of land to a public authority. Synonymous with the U.S. definition of eminent domain, which is the 'expropriation of private property for public use.'

accrue

1) growing or adding to, such as interest on a debt or investment which continues to accumulate 2) the manifestation of the right to bring forth a lawsuit, for example; the right to sue on a contract only accrues when the contract is breached.

plaintiff

The person, or persons, who initiates a case with the court.

lex situs

Latin, a conflict of law rule that selects the applicable law based on the location of something

pro socio

Latin, on behalf of a partnership.