Legal Terms- D

Question 1

DAMAGES

Answer 1

A monetary compensation, which may be recovered in the courts by any person who has suffered loss, or injury, whether to his person, property or rights through the unlawful act or omission or negligence of another.

Question 2

DECLARANT

Answer 2

A person who makes a statement.

Question 3

DE FACTO

Answer 3

In fact; actually but without legal authority.

Question 4

DE JURE

Answer 4

Of right; legitimate; lawful.

Question 5

DE MINIMIS

Answer 5

Very small or trifling.

Question 6

DE NOVO

Answer 6

Anew; afresh; a second time.

Question 7

DEBT

Answer 7

A specified sum of money owing to one person from another, including not only the obligation of the debtor to pay, but the right of the creditor to receive and enforce payment.

Question 8

DECEDENT

Answer 8

A dead person.

Question 9

DECISION

Answer 9

A judgement or decree pronounced by a court in determination of a case.

Question 10

DECREE

Answer 10

An order of the court, determining the rights of all parties to a suit.

Question 11

DEED

Answer 11

A writing containing a contract sealed and delivered; particularly to convey real property.

Question 12

DEFALCATION

Answer 12

Misappropriation of funds.

Question 13

DEFAMATION

Answer 13

Injuring one’s reputation by false statements.

Question 14

DEFAULT

Answer 14

The failure to fulfill a duty, observe a promise, discharge an obligation, or perform an agreement.

Question 15

DEFENDANT

Answer 15

The person defending or denying; the party against whom relief or recovery is sought in an action or suit.

Question 16

DEFRAUD

Answer 16

To practice fraud; to cheat or trick.

Question 17

DELEGATE (v.)

Answer 17

To entrust to the care or management of another.

Question 18

DELICTUS

Answer 18

A crime.

Question 19

DEMUR (v.)

Answer 19

To dispute the sufficiency in law of the pleading of the other side.

Question 20

DEMURRAGE

Answer 20

In maritime law, it means, the sum fixed or allowed as renumeration to the owners of a ship for the detention of their vessel beyond the number of days allowed for loading and unloading or for sailing; also used in railroad terminology.

Question 21

DENIAL

Answer 21

A form of pleading; refusing to admit the truth of a statement, charge, etc.

Question 22

DEPONENT

Answer 22

One who gives testimony under oath reduced to writing.

Question 23

DEPOSITION

Answer 23

Testimony given under oath outside of court for use in court or for the purpose of obtaining information in preparation for trial of a case.

Question 24

DETERIORATION

Answer 24

A degeneration such as from decay, corrosion or disintegration.

Question 25

DETRIMENT

Answer 25

Any loss or harm to person or property.

Question 26

DEVIATION

Answer 26

A turning aside.

Question 27

DEVISE

Answer 27

A gift of real property by the last will and testament of the donor.

Question 28

DICTUM (sing.)

Answer 28

See DICTA (plural.)

Question 29

DICTA (plural)

Answer 29

Any statements made by the court in an opinion concerning some rule of law not necessarily involved nor essential to the determination of the case.

Question 30

DIRECT EVIDENCE

Answer 30

Evidence that directly proves a fact, without an inference or presumption and which in itself if true, conclusively establishes that fact.

Question 31

DIRECT EXAMINATION

Answer 31

The first examination of a witness upon a matter that is not within the scope of a previous examination of the witness.

Question 32

DISAFFIRM

Answer 32

To repudiate.

Question 33

DISMISS

Answer 33

In an action or suit, it means to dispose of the case without any further consideration or hearing.

Question 34

DISSENT

Answer 34

To denote disagreement of one or more judges of a court with the decision passed by the majority upon a case before them.

Question 35

DOCKET (n.)

Answer 35

A formal record, entered in brief, of the proceedings in a court.

Question 36

DOCTRINE

Answer 36

A rule, principle, theory of law.

Question 37

DOMICILE

Answer 37

That place where a man has his true, fixed and permanent home to which whenever he is absent he has the intention of returning.

Question 38

DRAFT (n.)

Answer 38

A commercial paper ordering payment of money drawn by one person on another.

Question 39

DRAWEE

Answer 39

The person who is requested to pay the money.

Question 40

DRAWER

Answer 40

The person who draws the commercial paper and addresses it to the drawee.

Question 41

DUPLICATE

Answer 41

A counterpart produced by the same impression as the original enlargements and miniatures, or by mechanical or electronic re-recording, or by chemical reproduction, or by any equivalent technique which accurately reproduces the original.

Question 42

DURESS

Answer 42

Use of force to compel performance or non-performance of an act.