Legal Glossary
- DAMAGES
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Money awarded to the winning party in a lawsuit to pay for harm caused by the losing party
Synonyms: FINE - DE MINIMIS
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So insignificant that it does not warrant litigation
- DE NOVO
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To happen again as if it never occurred in the first place; a type of review exercised by a court over certain administrative actions
- DECISION
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A judgment or opinion issued by a court to conclude a legal issue and declare a winning and losing party
- DECLARATION
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Statement in a contract setting out rights and responsibilities of parties to the contract
- DECLARATORY JUDGMENT
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A court’s opinion on a question of law or to establish a party’s rights without imposing a remedy
- DECREE
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A judgment or opinion issued by a court to conclude a legal issue and declare a winning and losing party
Synonyms: JUDGEMENT - DEFAMATION
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Causing harm to one’s reputation; can be oral or written; see also SLANDER
- DEFAULT JUDGMENT
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A judgment in favor of the plaintiff due to the defendant’s failure to respond to a lawsuit
- DEFENDANT
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The person being sued or charged with a crime
- DEFENSE
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A defendant’s denial of the validity of a complaint or a legal reason why the defendant believes he or she should not be held liable
- DEGREE OF NEGLIGENCE
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The level of negligence for which a corresponding duty of liability depends
- DEGREE OF PROOF
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The level of how convincing the evidence must be in order to find against a defendant
- DELEGABLE DUTY
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The transfer of a duty to another, but still keeping the ultimate responsibility for performance
- DELIVERY
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Transfer of title or possession to another party
- DEMONSTRATIVE EVIDENCE
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Showing of a tangible item in court as evidence
- DEMUR
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To present a statement that no legal remedy exists
- DEMURRER
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Statement by the defendant that the complaint is one for which no legal remedy exists
- DENIAL
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A defendant’s answer or response in the negative to questions posed in the plaintiff’s pleading
- DEPOSE
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The giving of information during a deposition
- DEPOSITION
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An information gathering process before a trial for which witness statements are under oath
- DERIVATIVE ACTION
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Lawsuit initiated by shareholders against a corporation
- DISCLAIMER
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Denying of any legal responsibility for another's injury
- DISCOVERY
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One party seeking disclosure of information from an adverse party in preparation of a trial
- DISSENTING OPINION
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A written opinion by one or more judges which opposes part or all of a decision; does not have a binding effect on a decision
- DOMICILE
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Place of one’s permanent home, although might not be the current place where one lives; see also RESIDENCE
- DOUBLE JEOPARDY
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Prohibition from prosecuting or punishing a person twice for the same offense
- DUE CARE
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The level of care that a reasonable person owes another
- DUTY
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Responsibility owed to another person; can be a legal responsibility
- DUTY TO MITIGATE DAMAGES
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Recovery for loss is limited to amount which is unavoidable; the breached party has a responsibility to not incur additional losses on the breaching party’s behalf