Lawsuits & Mediation

"Nolo Everybody's Legal Dictionary":
ab initio
acknowledgment
action
actual damages
admissible evidence
admission
adopt
ADR
adult
affiant
affirmative defense
age of majority
agent
aggravate
aggravating circumstances
agreement
allegation
Allen charge
alternative dispute resolution (ADR)
amicus
amicus curiae
answer
appeal
appellant
appellate court
appellee
arbitration
arbitrator
argument
at issue memorandum
attestation
attorney fees
Attorney General
attorney work product privilege
attorney-client privilege
authenticate
avowal
bailiff
bar examination
bench
bench trial
best evidence rule
beyond a reasonable doubt
bifurcate
binding precedent
blanket search warrant
blue law
blue sky laws
bond
breach
breach of contract
brief
burden of proof
business records exception
capital case
caption
case
cause of action
certified copy
challenge for cause
chambers
circuit court
civil
civil case
civil procedure
class action
clear and present danger
closing argument
collateral estoppel
comity of nations
competent evidence
complaint
confidential communication
conformed copy
conservator
consortium
constable
contempt
contempt of court
contest
contingency fee
continuance
counterclaim
court calendar
court costs
court order
criminal case
criminal complaint
criminal law
cross-claim
cross-complaint
cross-examination
damages
decision
declaration under penalty of perjury
declaratory judgment
dedimus potestatum
defamation
default judgment
defendant
demur
demurrer
deponent
deposition
dicta
dictum
direct examination
directed verdict
discovery
dispute
district court
diversity jurisdiction
docket
draft
driving under the influence (DUI)
drunk driving
DUI
DWI
dynamite charge
eggshell skull
elements (of a case)
emergency protective order
equitable estoppel
estoppel
estoppel by deed
estoppel by silence
estoppel in pais
evidence
evidentiary
exclusionary rule
executive privilege
exemplary damages
family court
federal court
Feres doctrine
fieri facias
file
filing fee
fishing expedition
form interrogatories
forum
forum nonconveniens
forum shopping
friendly suit
friendly witness
general damages
golden rule argument
grand jury
grandfather clause
gravamen
guardian ad litem
habeas corpus
habeas corpus ad subjiciendum
hearing
hearsay rule
high seas
hung jury
impeach
in camera
in propia persona
in toto
inadmissible evidence
incompetence
indispensable party
information
informed consent
injunction
injunctive relief
interlocutory decree
interrogatory
ipse dixit
ipso facto
JNOV
judgment
judgment notwithstanding the verdict (JNOV)
jurisdiction
jurisdictional amount
juror
jury
jury nullification
jus cogens
jus naturale
justice system
legal action
legal papers
legislative immunity
lex loci
liability
liable
libel
lis pendens
litigation
majority
malfeasance
malpractice
mandamus
mandatory
mandatory injunction
mediation
mediator
memorandum
memorandum decision
minimum contacts
misfeasance
mistrial
motion
motion for summary judgment
motion in limine
negative pregnant
next friend
nol. pros.
nolle prosequi
nolo
nolo contendere
nominal damages
notarize
notary public
nuisance
nulla bona
oath
oath of office
obiter dictum
offensive collateral estoppel
offer of proof
offset
opening statement
order
order to show cause
ordinance
pain and suffering
paralegal
party
pendente lite
peremptory challenge
personal injury
personal injury recovery
petition
petitioner
plaintiff
pleading
post hoc
prayer for relief
precedent
preliminary injunction
prima facie
privileged communication
pro hac vice
pro per
pro se
probate court
promissory estoppel
punitive damages
quantum meruit