Legal Glossary
- --PER CURIAM OPINION
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A written opinion that does not identify the judge who wrote the opinion
- PAIN AND SUFFERING
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Damages to compensate for causing another physical and / or mental harm
- PARENTAL LIABILITY
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Parents responsible for the torts of their minor children
- PAROL EVIDENCE
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Oral evidence
- PAROL EVIDENCE RULE
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A rule which precludes the introduction of oral evidence which would contradict the written terms of a contract
- PARTIAL BREACH
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Slight breach which does not substantially impair a contract; breached party is not justified in abandoning the contract, but can recover for damages caused by the breach
- PATENT AMBIGUITY
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Obviously unclear terms on its face; compare to LATENT AMBIGUITYi
- PENALTY
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Usually a monetary sanction imposed for wrong-doing
- PER SE
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By itself; does not require additional evidence to establish its existence
- PERFORMANCE
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Fulfillment of a contract’s obligation
- PERFORMANCE BOND
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Putting up money to guarantee compensation in event of a breach of contract
- PERSONAL PROPERTY
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Movable property that is not attached to realty; compare to REAL PROPERTY
- PIERCING THE CORPORATE VEIL
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A way to hold the individuals within a corporation, or a parent corporation, liable for misdeeds despite the usual protections offered
- PLAIN ERROR
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The conclusion of an appellate court that an error by the lower court would have changed the outcome of the decision and therefore must be corrected
- PLAINTIFF
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The person bringing forth a lawsuit
- POWER OF ACCEPTANCE
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The authority of the person who was made an offer to bind a contract before the opportunity to accept the offer lapses
- POWER OF ATTORNEY
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A written document granting another authority to perform certain acts on behalf of the person granting the authority
- PREVAILING PARTY
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Party who is awarded a judgment
- PRIMA FACIE
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On its face; does not require additional evidence to support its existence
- PRINCIPAL
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In regards to agency law, a person who allows or authorizes another to act on his or her behalf and subject to his or her control
- PUBLIC POLICY
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Principle that a higher good is served when certain decisions are made even if individual may suffer as a consequence