Legal Terminology
Terms
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- quantum
- how much; as much as
- quantum meruit (MAIR-uh-wit)
- as much as he has earned; the value of what has been done
- quantum valebant (vah-LEE-bant)
- as much as they were worth; the value of the goods sold
- quash
- to set aside; to vacate; to annul
- quasi
- relating to or having the character of; as it
- quasi contract
- a contract which arises without express agreement between the parties; an implied contract
- quasi judicial
- having som eof the characteristics of judicial power; able to make determinations but having limited powers
- quia timet (KWEYE-ah TYE-met)
- because he fears. The name of a bill filed in equity court asking that something be done "because he fears" that otherwise he will suffer probable injury.
- quid pro quo
- something for something; legal consideration
- quitclaim deed
- a written instrument that transfers or gives up any claim or interest a person may have in property
- quo warranto
- "by what authority." A proceeding by which a person is required to show by what authority he is holding office or exercising some right or franchise. (Also the writ or pleading which institutes the proceeding)
- quod vide
- "which see." A direction to the reader to look elsewhere for further information. (usually abbreviated q.v.)
- quorum
- the minimum number of members who must be present in order to constitute a formal meeting capable of transacting business.
- ratify
- to confirm retroactively; to confirm a previously invalid or unauthorized act.
- real
- pertaining to land as opposed to personal.
- real action
- an action brought for the specific recovery of lands, tenements, and hereditaments.
- real contract
- a contract respecting real property; on ewhich has something specific for its subject matter.
- real property
- land; land together with all its natural resources and man-made improvements.
- receiver
- a disinterested person appointed by the court to receive and preserve property
- recidivist
- the habitual criminal; the repeater
- recidivism
- falling back into criminal habits
- reciprocity
- state of being interchangeable, mutually cooperative or dependant
- recognizance
- an obligation entered before the court to do some particular thing; an obligation undertaken by a person, generally a defendant in a criminal case, to appear in court on a particular day.
- recordation
- the act or process of filing an instrument with a public authority
- recriminate
- to make a counterchange or accusation
- recusation
- the process by which a judge is disqualified (or disqualifies himself) from hearing a lawsuit because of interest or prejudice
- redress
- reparation of wrong; amends; remedy
- reductio ad absurdum
- the method of disproving an argument by showing that it leads to an absurd consequence
- referendum
- the procedure of putting a law to a direct vote of the people rather than (or in addition to) passing it through the legislature
- relator
- an informer; the person in whose name certain complaints or writs are issued; a party in interest who is allowed to institute an action in the name of the People or Attorney General
- relinquishment
- a forsaking or abandonment of a count in a declaration of the whole or part of one's claim.
- remainder
- that portion or interest which is left after the determination of a particular estate
- remainderman
- one who is entitled to the remainder of an estate after prior claims have been satisfied
- remand
- to send back; to recommit a person to prison; to send back a cause of action to the same court out of which it came for further action.
- remittitur
- the procedural process by which an excessive verdict of a jury is diminished.
- remittitur of record
- the sending back of a case ifrom an appellate court