Law Pt 1 Flashcards
Case Law
Judge-made law. Settle disputes between parties; or interpret legislation
Statutory Law
Made by the legislature declaring, demanding, or prohibiting something.
Constitutional Law
United States Consitution = law of the land.
Plaintiff
Person who initiates the action. Requests the court grant specific relief
Injunction
Plaintiff ordering the party to discontinue the illegal act
Appellant/Appellee
- Person who appeals the case
2. Other party
Remanded
Process where an appeals court returns a case to the trial court to retry the case or to modify the decisions.
Motion to Dismiss
Based on grounds such as failure to state a claim, or a claim barred by the statute of limitations.
Incompetent
Type of evidence where a witness is testifying on a matter for which knowledge or expertise is lacking.
Irrelevant
Type of evidence that fails to clarify or be related to the fact or issue in dispute
Immaterial
Type of evidence to prove or disprove a fact that is uncontested
Consent Decree
An agreement of the parties made under the sanction of the court
Senate
Congressional body responsible for approving presidential nominees for federal courts
Numerosity
Requirement that there must be a large enough number of plaintiffs that individual suits are impracticable
Voir Dire
Done to ascertain whether perspective jurors have the qualifications and ability to be impartial
Depositions
These are conducted by the attorneys of all potential witness to the lawsuit
JNOV (judgment not withstanding the verdict)
post-trial motion by either party asking that the jury verdict be reversed as it represents a legal matter
Interrogatories
Questions to the opposing parties that must be answered in writing and verified by the party to whom they are directed
Summary Judgment
Requires that the moving party demonstrate that
- no genuine issue of material fact remains and
- the governing law indicates that moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law
Peremptory Challenges
Used to have a prospective juror dismissed without stating a reason
Usually get three
Must be race neutral
Directed Verdict
Where the plaintiff failed to establish a prima facie case and the defendant is entitled to have a verdict in its favor
Prima Facie Case
Establishment of legally required rebuttable presumption
Law of the Case Doctrine
When a circuit court will not reexamine issues of law addressed by a prior panel from the same court
Typicality
Requirement that claims of the class representatives who are named plaintiffs must be typical of the claims of other class members.
Commonality
Requirement that members of the class must have claims that include common questions of fact or law
11th Amendment
A form of immunity defense used when monetary damages are sought in federal court from a government entity
Certifying a Question
Process of a formal request by one court to another court for an opinion on a question of law
Exculpatory Clause
Within a contract relieves one party of liability if damages are caused during the execution of the contract
Proof beyond a reasonable doubt
is the level of proof required in criminal court
Clear & Convincing Evidence
Provides support for a claim that is highly probably to prove that a certain thing has occured
Preponderance of the Evidence
Is established when something has more likely than not occured