General Civil Litigation Legal Terms and Legal Words. Litigation Terminology

abstract of judgment

"Abstract of judgment" is a written summary of a judgment which states how much money the losing defendant owes to the person who won the lawsuit (judgment creditor), the rate of interest to be paid on the judgment amount, court costs, and any specific orders that the losing defendant (judgment debtor) must obey, which abstract is acknowledged and stamped … Full Definition »

Law topic: General Civil Litigation << Legal issue: Litigation

Adjournment

Adjournment: the postponement of a court proceeding or session until another date; may be with a specified date or without which is sometimes referred to as being “adjourned sine die”; “sine die” is the Latin term meaning without a day. … Full Definition »

Law topic: General Civil Litigation << Legal issue: Litigation

amicus curiae

stands for Latin "friend of the court". In many cases involving public interest court invites a person or an organization to provide an impartial view on the issue and help the court to come to a just decision. Such person or organization files a brief in amicus curiae supporting one of the party's position. Brief in amicus curiae is submitted by a … Full Definition »

Law topic: General Civil Litigation << Legal issue: Litigation

codefendant

When more than one person or entity is sued in one lawsuit, each party sued is called a codefendant. Example: Clarence "C.J." Stewart was a co-defendant with O.J.Simpson in their 2007 armed robbery of sports related memorabilia trial. … Full Definition »

Law topic: General Civil Litigation << Legal issue: Litigation

corroborative witness

a person who testifies for you and backs up your story. If you are asking the court to grant a divorce, you must bring to the hearing a witness who can corroborate your grounds for divorce. … Full Definition »

Law topic: General Civil Litigation << Legal issue: Litigation

de novo

Literal translation: anew Definition and use: often used in the context of "trial de novo"—a new trial ordered when the previous one failed to reach a conclusion. … Full Definition »

Law topic: General Civil Litigation << Legal issue: Litigation

defendant

The party that is sued in either civil lawsuite, or has violated criminal statute and now charged with a crime. In divorce proceeding, a Defendant is called a Respondent. … Full Definition »

Law topic: General Civil Litigation << Legal issue: Litigation

fictitious defendant

is a real person a plaintiff believes it has a cause of action against in a lawsuit who, for one reason or another, cannot be identified by the plaintiff before a lawsuit is commenced. Because it is not always possible for a Plaintiff to identify all Defendants before Statute of limitations runs out, the Plaintiff identifies unknown Defendants as John Doe … Full Definition »

Law topic: General Civil Litigation << Legal issue: Litigation

file a lawsuit

means literally to give the clerk of Court your legal papers, usually summons & complaint. … Full Definition »

Law topic: General Civil Litigation << Legal issue: Litigation

garnishee

A third party, usually a bank or an employer, who has been notified that money or property in his or her hands but belonging to a defendant has been seized by a court order. … Full Definition »

Law topic: General Civil Litigation << Legal issue: Litigation