A legal doctrine whereby those who take too long to assert a legal right, lose their entitlement to compensation. When you claim that a person's legal suit against you is not valid because of this, you would call it "estoppel by laches".

An epilepsy medicine. There are reports of dispensing errors involving Lamictal and Lamisil, a medication for the treatment of toenail fungus. Patients receiving Lamisil instead of Lamictal would be inadequately treated for epilepsy.

A medication for the treatment of toenail fungus. There are reports of dispensing errors involving Lamisil and Lamictal, an epilepsy medicine. Patients receiving Lamictal instead of Lamisil could experience adverse side effects.

A land or building owner who has leased the land, the building or a part of the land or building, to another person.

A point in time when a policy has been canceled or terminated for failure to pay the premium, or when the policy contract is void for other reasons.

A gift made in a will to a person who has died prior to the will-makers death.

Obtaining property by fraud or deceit.

The combination of those rules and principles of conduct promulgated by legislative authority, derived from court decisions and established by local custom.

Persons trained in the law who assist judges in researching legal opinions.

People admitted to the U.S. who are granted permanent authorization to work by the Accidentsand Nationalization Service (INS) or admitted to the U.S. on a temporary basis with INS authorization to work.

Generally, a court action brought by one person, the plaintiff, against another, the defendant , seeking compensation for some injury or enforcement of a right.

A person licensed to practice law; other words for ´lawyer´ include: attorney, counsel, solicitor and barrister.

Case regarded as having determined the law on a particular point, thus becoming a guide for later decisions.

A question that suggests the answer desired of the witness. A party generally may not ask one´s own witness leading questions. Leading questions may be asked only of hostile witnesses and on cross-examination.

A special kind of contract between a property owner and a person wanting temporary enjoyment and use of the property, in exchange for rent paid to the property owner. Where the property is land, a building, or parts of either, the property owner is called a landlord and the person that contracts to receive the temporary enjoyment and use is called a tenant.

Real property held under a lease.

Professional legal services available usually to persons or organizations unable to afford such services.

Substantial factor in bringing about the harm. See also proximate cause.

A child custody decision which entails the right to make, or participate in, the significant decisions affecting a child's health and welfare (compare with physical custody and joint custody).

Assumption of a fact that may or may not be true made by a judge to decide a legal question.

Written and approved laws. Also known as "statutes" or "acts." In constitutional law, one would talk of the "power to legislate" or the "legislative arm of government" referring to the power of political bodies (eg: house of assembly, Congress, Parliament) to write the laws of the land.

Recommendation for a sentence less than the maximum allowed.

Legal document issued by a court that shows an administrator´s legal right to take control of assets in the deceased person´s name.

Legal document issued by a court that shows an executor´s legal right to take control of assets in the deceased person´s name.

A type of cancer that forms in the bone marrow, causing abnormal white blood cell development. Leukemia can be caused by exposure to certain carcinogenic substances.

An obligation that one is bound in law to perform; usually involves the payment of money damages.

Liability loss or exposure where negligent acts may occur for which an organization may be held responsible. The act must be injury to or property damage of others. Insurance coverage for this type of risk is called, ´third party insurance.´

Published words or pictures that falsely and maliciously defame a person. Libel is published defamation; slander is spoken.

Judicial interpretation of the law whereby the judge expands the literal meaning of the statute to meet cases that are clearly within the spirit or reason of the law. Compare with strict construction whereby the judge adheres to the literal meaning of the words.

A special permission to do something on, or with, somebody else's property which, were it not for the license, could be legally prevented or give rise to legal action in tort or trespass. A common example is allowing a person to walk across your lawn which, if it were not for the license, would constitute trespass. Licenses are revocable at will (unless supported by a contract) and, as such, differs from an easement (the latter conveying a legal interest in the land). Licenses which are not based on a contract and which are fully revocable are called "simple" or "bare" licenses. A common example is the shopping mall to which access by the public is on the basis of an implied license.

In civil law, a person who enters land with consent, but nothing more.

A legal claim against another person´s property as security for a debt. A lien does not convey ownership of the property, but gives the lien holder a right to have his or her debt satisfied out of the proceeds of the property if the debt is not otherwise paid. A right or claim for payment against a workers´ compensation case.

A right to use and to enjoy land and/or structures on land only for the life of the life tenant. The estate reverts back to the grantor (or to some other person), at the death of the person to whom it is given. A property right to last only for the life of the life tenant is called the estate "pur sa vie." If it is for the duration of the life of a third party, it is called an estate "pur autre vie". The rights of the life tenant are restricted to conduct which does not permanently change the land or structures upon it.

1. Life expectancy at birth is a statistical measurement that projects how a society will change over time. It is the statistically determined number of years, at birth, that a person is expected to live. Currently, life expectancy for men in the US is 74.8 years and for women it is 80.1 years.2. Life expectancy at 65 measures the number of years a person is expected to live once they reach the age of 65. It is different from life expectancy at birth, because by that age many life-threatening challenges have passed. At present, men who reach the age of 65 in this country can expect to live until the age of 81.6 years of age, and women to the age of 84.5.

The beneficiary of a life estate.

A motion requesting that the court not allow certain evidence that might prejudice the jury.

Refers to courts that are limited in the types of criminal and civil cases they may hear. For example, traffic violations generally are heard by limited jurisdiction courts.

A unique colleague in a partnership relationship who has agreed to be liable only to the extent of his (or her) investment. Limited partners, though, have no right to manage the partnership. Limited partners are usually just investors or promoters who seek the tax benefits of a partnership

In Pennsylvania, purchasers of motor vehicle insurance can choose ´limited tort,´ which restricts their right to seek money damages for an accident caused by another driver. Under limited tort, the insured can only seek money damages for economic loss, including medical bills. The insured is prohibited from seeking damages for pain and suffering, except under certain limited circumstances. Compare with full tort option.

Adjacent, bordering or contiguous.

A person who is a direct descendant such as a child to his or her natural parent.

The selling of all the assets of a debtor and the use of the cash proceeds of the sale to pay off creditors.

Latin: a dispute or matter which is the subject of ongoing or pending litigation. Politicians will sometimes refuse to discuss a matter or an issue which is "lis pendens" because they do not want their comments to be perceived as an attempt to influence a court of law.

A form of construction which does not allow evidence extrapolated beyond the actual words of a phrase or document but, rather, takes a phrase or document at face value, giving effect only to the actual words used. Also known as "strict" or "strict and literal" construction. Contrasts with liberal construction (which allows for the input from other factors such as the purpose of the document being interpreted).

A party to a lawsuit. Litigation refers to a case, controversy, or lawsuit.

The process of settling a dispute through the court system.

An archaic legal word from the feudal system referring to the actual legal transmission of possession of an object to another. For example, a knight would obtain an estate in land as tenure in exchange for serving in the king's army for 40 days a year. The king would give exclusive possession of the land, (i.e. "livery") to the knight. A writ of livery also developed which allowed persons to sue for possession of land under the feudal system. Livery (or "delivery") of the land was important in completing legal possession or, as it was known in the feudal system, seisin.

A trust set up and in effect during the lifetime of the grantor. Also called inter vivos trust.

A document setting up guidelines for dealing with heroic measures and life-sustaining medical procedures in the eventuality of the signatory's sudden debilitation. Living wills would, for example, inform medical staff not to provide extraordinary life-preserving procedures on the body if the maker of the document is incapable of expressing himself and is suffering from an incurable and terminal condition.

The Latin abbreviations for the three classes of law degrees: the regular bachelor degree in law (LL.B.), the masters degree in law (LL.M.) and the doctorate in law (LL.D.). These are basic prerequisites to admission to the practice of law in many states.

A healthcare provider who is serving as a temporary relief or substitute.

Latin for "the place." For example, "locus delicti", the pace where a criminal offense was committed or "loco parentis", referring to a person who stands in the place of a parent, such as a step-parent in a common law relationship.

Each court is bound to a territorial jurisdiction and does not normally have jurisdiction over persons that reside outside of that territory. Long-arm statutes are a tool which gives a court jurisdiction over a person even though the person no longer resides in the territorial limits of the court.

Damages awarded to a family member (usually a spouse) for loss of companionship.

A drug used to treat irritable bowel syndrome in women. The manufacturer voluntarily withdrew Lotronex? from the market after it was associated with reports of serious side effects such as intestinal damage, severely obstructed or ruptured bowels, and death.

A one-time payment of $255 paid in addition to any monthly survivors insurance benefits that are due. This benefit is paid to your widow/widower or minor children.

A type of cancer that forms in the lymph nodes. Lymphoma can be caused by exposure to certain carcinogenic substances.