collusion
Where two persons (or business entities through their officers or other employees) enter into a deceitful agreement, usually secret, to defraud and/or gain an unfair advantage over a third party, competitors, consumers or those with whom they are neg ...

collusive action
A lawsuit brought by parties pretending to be adversaries in order to obtain by subterfuge an advisory opinion or precedent-setting decision from the court.

color of law
The appearance of an act being performed based upon legal right or enforcement of statute, when in reality no such right exists. An outstanding example is found in the civil rights acts which penalize law enforcement officers for violating civil righ ...

color of title
The appearance of having title to personal or real property by some evidence, but in reality there is either no title or a vital defect in the title. One might show a title document to real property, but in reality he/she may have deeded the property ...

comaker
When two or more people sign a check or a promissory note, each is a comaker, and each is liable for the entire amount to be paid. See also: maker.

comity
When one court defers to the jurisdiction of another in a case in which both would have the right to handle the case. Usually this is applied to a federal court allowing a state court to try a criminal case (either exclusively or first) in which both ...

commencement of action
n. an action (a lawsuit) commences (begins officially) when the party suing files a written complaint or petition with the clerk of the court.