The rule that a defendant can assert the attorney–client privilege to protect a confidential communication made to a codefendant’s lawyer if the communication was related to the defense of both defendants. — Also termed common-interest doctrine. [Cases: Witnesses 199(2). C.J.S. Witnesses § 325.]
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declaration against interest 〈美〉对本人不利的陈述 非诉讼当事人，且不能在庭审时作为证人出庭作证的人在法庭外所作的于其本人的金钱或财产利益不利的，或者可能导致其承担民事或刑事责任的陈述，可以作为传闻规则的例外作为证据予以采信。但《联邦证据规则》〔Federal Rules of Evidence〕规定，可能使陈述人承担刑事责任或可以使被告人洗清罪责的此种陈述，除非有旁证能够明显表明该陈述的可信性，否则不能采信。
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neutral principles. Constitutional law. Rules grounded in law, as opposed to rules based on personal interests or beliefs. • In this context, the phrase was popularized by Herbert Wechsler. See Toward Neutral Principles of Constitutional Law, 73 Harv. L. Rev. 1 (1959).
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lost-chance doctrine. 1. LOSS-OF-CHANCE DOCTRINE. 2. A rule permitting a claim, in limited circumstances, against someone who fails to come to the aid of a person who is in imminent danger of being injured or killed. Cf. GOOD SAMARITAN DOCTRINE.
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Property. The common-law doctrine requiring a future interest to vest by the time it is to become possessory or else suffer total destruction (the interest then reverting to the grantor). The doctrine could be avoided by the use of trustees to preserve contingent remainders. • This doctrine has been abolished in all but a few
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leads doctrine. Tax. In a tax-evasion case, the rule that the government must investigate all the taxpayer’s leads that are reasonably accessible and that, if true, would establish the taxpayer’s innocence, or the government risks having the trial judge presume that any leads not investigated are true and exonerating. [Cases: Internal Revenue 5312.]
public-duty doctrine. Torts. The rule that a governmental entity (such as a state or municipality) cannot be held liable for an individual plaintiff’s injury resulting from a governmental officer’s or employee’s breach of a duty owed to the general public rather than to the individual plaintiff. — Also termed public-duty rule. See SPECIAL-DUTY DOCTRINE. [Cases:
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chair. Parliamentary law. 1. A deliberative assembly’s presiding officer (the chair calls for order). See PRESIDE. 2. The presiding officer’s seat (take the chair). 3. The officer who heads an organization (the treasurer reports directly to the chair). — Also termed chairman (of a male chair, in senses 1 & 3); chairwoman (of a female