prayer for relief

prayer for relief. A request addressed to the court and appearing at the end of a pleading; esp., a request for specific relief or damages. — Often shortened to prayer.

— Also termed demand for relief. See AD DAMNUM CLAUSE. [Cases: Federal Civil Procedure 680; Pleading 72. C.J.S. Pleading §§ 110–115.]

“The prayer for relief. The plaintiff prays in his bill for the relief to which he supposes himself entitled on the case made out in the bill. This is called the special prayer. He then prays for general relief, usually in these words: ‘And the plaintiff (or your orator) prays for such further or other relief as the nature of the case may require, and as may be agreeable to equity and good conscience.’ Both prayers are generally inserted in the bill, — the special prayer first, the general following.” Edwin E. Bryant, The Law of Pleading Under the Codes of Civil Procedure 69 (2d ed. 1899).

general prayer. A prayer for additional unspecified relief, traditionally using language such as, “Plaintiff additionally prays for such other and further relief to which she may show herself to be justly entitled.” • The general prayer typically follows a special prayer. [Cases: Judgment 252; Pleading 72. C.J.S. Judgments § 53; Pleading §§ 110–115.]

special prayer. A prayer for the particular relief to which a plaintiff claims to be entitled. [Cases: Judgment 252; Pleading 72. C.J.S. Judgments § 53; Pleading §§ 110–115.]


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译者晓琳,法学硕士(国际争议解决方向),擅长翻译各种与复杂跨境争议相关的法律文件。
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