Legal Glossary
- ACTUAL DAMAGES
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Reimbursement for damages caused; intended to reimburse injured party for out of pocket losses
Synonyms: Compensatory Damages - ACTUAL POSSESSION
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Physical control over property
- ADDITIONAL INSURED
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A party who is covered by an insurance policy issued to which they did not contract; payouts go to the named insureds first and then to the additional insureds if there is any coverage remaining
- ADHESION CONTRACT
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A contract heavily favoring one party; might be considered unconscionable and invalid
- ADVERSE POSSESSION
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Acquiring legal title to land without purchase or as a gift but only after meeting specific criteria in occupying such land for a certain period of time against the rights of the true owner
- AGE OF MAJORITY
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Age when a person becomes legally responsible for contracts and allowed all legal rights as a citizen
- AGENCY
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One person acting on behalf of another with the other person’s permission or authorization
- AGGRAVATING CIRCUMSTANCES
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Factors that may increase the severity or punishment of a crime
- ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION (“ADR”)
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Using a third party, other than a judge, to help resolve disputes in attempt to avoid a trial
Synonyms: ADR - --ARBITRATION
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Contracted for process to resolve disputes using specially trained decision makers rather than courts
- ANTITRUST LAWS
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Laws against monopolies or price fixing amongst similar businesses
- APPARENT AUTHORITY
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If the agent appears to have the authority of the principal, the principal is thus liable for the acts of the agent
- AS IS
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A warning that the buyer is accepting the goods as they are even if they are found to be defective or damaged
- ASSAULT
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An attempt to cause physical or emotional harm; it is not necessary to show actual harm
- ASSET
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Any property of value
- ASSIGNED RISK
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Classification for high risk automobile drivers due to their poor prior driving history
- ASSUMPIT
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A contractual promise
- ASSUMPTION OF RISK
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A defense from liability when a known dangerous condition exits, yet a person voluntarily undertook the risk anyway
- ATTRACTIVE NUISANCE
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A potentially dangerous condition which attracts children who might not appreciate its danger for which the condition might create liability for the land owner or land occupier