|
Corpus delicti
- The substance or foundation of a crime; the substantial fact that a crime has been committed, e g., the corpse of a homicide victim, the charred remains of a burned house.
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
Methods of resolving disputes outside of official court proceedings. These methods include mediation arbitration, and conciliation
Privileged communications
Confidential communications to certain persons that are protected by law against any disclosure, including forced disclosure in legal proceedings. Communications between lawyer and client, physician and patient, psychotherapist and patient, priest, minister or rabbi and penitent are typically privileged.
Hung jury
A jury that cannot agree on a final verdict. If a jury is hung, the court declares a mistrial and the case may be re-tried.
Double jeopardy
Common law and constitutional prohibition (5th Amendment) against more than one prosecution for the same crime
Circumstantial evidence
All evidence of an indirect nature. Testimony not based on actual personal knowledge or observation of the facts in controversy.
Assumption of risk
In tort law, a defense to a personal injury suit. The essence of the defense is that the plaintiff assumed the known risk of whatever dangerous condition caused the injury
With prejudice
A dismissal "with prejudice" bars the right to bring or maintain another action on the same claim or cause.
|
Did You Know?