Legal Glossary
- LABOR UNION
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Workers association to negotiate with employers about employee rights and benefits
- LACHES
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When the enforcement of one’s rights is expired because the rights were not timely asserted
- LAPSE
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Beyond the time threshold to exercise rights or privileges
- LARCENY
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Moving someone’s property without his or her permission without intending to return the property
- LAST CLEAR CHANCE
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May be liable if you have an opportunity to avoid an incident and you did not make attempts to avoid the incident
- LATENT AMBIGUITY
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Terms that may have multiple meanings when applied; compare to PATENT AMBIGUITYi
- LAW
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Rules to govern society (case law, common law, statutes, etc.)
- LAWFUL
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Action within the bounds of the law and not against public policy
- LAWSUIT (“SUIT”)
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Court proceeding to seek a lawful remedy
Synonyms: SUIT - LAY WITNESS
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Person who provides testimony which is entered as evidence before or during a trial; compare to EXPERT WITNESS
- LEADING QUESTION
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Suggesting the answer within a question; improper technique on direct examination
- LEGAL AGE
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Age of person for which he or she is legally responsible or granted privileges; varies by state and by the nature of the activity (e.g. illegal acts; driving; drinking; capacity to enter into contract)
- LEGAL DETRIMENT
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To forgo privileges or assume duties or liability; can fulfill the element of consideration for a contract
- LEGAL DUTY
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Requirement to act or not act because of a responsibility based assumed by the nature of a special relationship (e.g. parent/child) or by a contract
- LEGISLATION
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Creating and enacting laws
- LEX LOCI CONTRACTUS
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The jurisdiction’s law where a contract was made
- LEX LOCI DELICTI
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The jurisdiction’s law where a wrong occurred
- LIABILITY
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Responsibility for action; debt; duty or obligation
- LIABLE
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Legally responsible
- LIBEL
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Publication of defamatory written words or images which are false and not privileged; may be liable; compare to SLANDER or DEFAMATION
- LIMITATION
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Restraint; also a clause in a contract restricting certain rights and duties
- LIMITED JURISDICTION
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Courts authority to only hear certain types of cases
- LIMITED LIABILITY
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Special business status granted by a jurisdiction; the business loss is only to the extent of the amount invested in the business; the business is responsible only to the extent of its assets; generally protects individuals from personal liability
- LIQUIDATED DAMAGES
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Contract language which is a reasonable forecast of potential damages in case of a breach of contract
- LIS PENDENS
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Pending lawsuit which may affect title to real estate
- LITIGANTS
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Parties to a lawsuit (e.g. plaintiff; defendant; appellee; appellant)
- LITIGATION
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Lawsuit to determine and enforce legal rights
- LITIGIOUS
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Person or business commonly known to sue
- LOCUS CONTRACTUS
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The jurisdiction where a contract was made
- LOCUS DELICTI
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The jurisdiction where a wrong occurred
- LONG-ARM STATUTES
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Allows courts to hear certain cases with a nonresident defendant
- LOSS
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Damage or destruction; term often used in insurance policies