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Law Terminology
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| Attorney: | A legal agent or person who practices law. |
| Claim: | Asserting a right in court that is the result of certain occurrences or facts which give rise to an action enforceable at law. |
| Contingency Fees: | Payment based upon or dependent upon a party’s successful resolution of the matter. |
| Defendant: | A person, company or entity against whom someone brings a lawsuit. |
| Discovery: | The process by which parties learn or uncover information regarding a lawsuit. It includes written questions and oral depositions before a trial. |
| Liability: | The process by which parties learn or uncover information regarding a lawsuit. It includes written questions and oral depositions before a trial. |
| Litigation: | A lawsuit or the process by which one is carried out. |
| Medical Malpractice: | A physician’s deviation from the applicable standard of care that a similar physician would exercise under the same circumstances. |
| Negligence: | A deviation from the standard of care that a reasonably prudent person would have exercised under the same circumstances. |
| Personal Injury: | When a person is wrongfully injured by the negligent or intentional conduct of a wrongdoer. |
| Plaintiff: | The person or family, estate or guardian of a person injured who brings a lawsuit against a defendant. |
| Premises Liability: | Liability of landowners or those who are responsible for maintaining the property for activities or conditions occurring on the land. |
| Product Liability: | Liability of a manufacturer or seller of a defective product for any injuries or damages suffered as a result of the defective product. |
| Settlement: | When a case is concluded prior to a verdict at trial when all parties agree to drop the lawsuit in favor of accepting an agreement made outside of court. |
| Tort Law: | An area of law that provides a remedy to all parties who are injured as a result of a civil wrong. |
| Verdict: | A finder of fact’s decision as to whether the facts warrant a judgment in favor of the plaintiff and, if so, the amount to which the plaintiff is entitled. |
| Wrongful Death: | When a person’s death is caused by the negligent or intentional act of a wrongdoer. |