claim against a governmental agency
Any time one believes he/she has a right to payment for damages from the government or on an unpaid contract with a government agency (including city, county, state, school district)

claim against an estate
Upon the death of a person and beginning of probate (filing of will, etc.), a person believing he/she is owed money should file a written claim (statement) promptly with the executor or administrator of the estate, who will then approve it, in whole ...

claim in bankruptcy
The written claim filed by persons or businesses owed money (creditors) by a party who files for bankruptcy (debtor) to benefit from the distribution if money becomes available.

class
In legal (not sociological) terms, all those persons in the same category, level of rights (e.g. heirs of dead person who are related by the same degree), or who have suffered from the same incident.

class action
A lawsuit filed by one or more people on behalf of themselves and a larger group of people "who are similarly situated."

clean hands doctrine
A rule of law that a person coming to court with a lawsuit or petition for a court order must be free from unfair conduct (have "clean hands" or not have done anything wrong) in regard to the subject matter of his/her claim.

clear and convincing evidence
Evidence that proves a matter by the "preponderance of evidence" required in civil cases and beyond the "reasonable doubt" needed to convict in a criminal case. See also: beyond a reasonable doubt.