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Most Popular Legal Definitions
just cause
Employment law: misconduct of an employee, or some other event relevant to the
employee, which justifies the immediate termination of the employment contract.
functus officio
Latin, an officer or agency whose mandate has expired either because of the
arrival of an expiration date or because an agency has accomplished the purpose
for which it was created.
express trust
A trust which is created by the settlor, usually in the form of a document,
although it can be oral.
hostile witness
During an examination-in-chief, a lawyer is not allowed to ask leading questions
of their own witness. But, if that witness openly displays hostility against the
interest of the person that the lawyer represents, the lawyer may ask the court
to declare the witness "hostile", after which, the lawyer may ask their own
witness leading questions.
ad valorem
Latin for "based on value," which generally applies to property taxes based on a
percentage of the county's assessment of the property's value.
cause of action
The basis of a lawsuit founded on legal grounds and alleged facts which, if
proved, would constitute all the "elements" required by statute.
occupier's liability
Liability of a person who controls land or
buildings in regards to damages caused to others who enter
thereon.
trial
The resolution of a dispute by examination of
evidence submitted by opposing litigants by a tribunal or Court of law, and
determination of guilt or civil dispute of fact or law.
a fortiori
From Latin, "with even stronger reason." It
applies to situations in which if one thing is true then it can be inferred that
a second thing is even more certainly true. For example, if someone is too young
to drive, then his younger brother certainly is too young.
corollary relief
relief sought from a Court which is incidental or consequential to another
principal relief