cross-claim, n. A claim asserted between codefendants or coplaintiffs in a case and that relates to the subject of the original claim or counterclaim. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 13(g). — Also termed cross-action; cross-suit. Cf. COUN-TERCLAIM. [Cases: Federal Civil Procedure 786; Pleading 147, 148, 149; Set-off and Counterclaim 10.] — cross-claim, vb. — cross-claimant, […]
bind over, vb. 1. To put (a person) under a bond or other legal obligation to do something, esp. to appear in court. 2. To hold (a person) for trial; to turn (a defendant) over to a sheriff or warden for imprisonment pending further judicial action. • A court may bind over a defendant if
backberend (bak-ber-[schwa]nd). [Old English] Hist. 1. The bearing of stolen goods upon the back or about the person. • Backberend is sometimes modernized to backbearing. 2. A person caught carrying stolen goods. — Also spelled bacberende; backberinde. Cf. HANDHABEND. “Backberinde signifieth bearing upon the Back, or about a Man. Bracton useth it for a Sign
quartering, n. Hist. 1. The dividing of a criminal’s body into quarters after execution, esp. as part of the punishment for a crime such as high treason. See HANGED, DRAWN, AND QUARTERED. 2. The furnishing of living quarters to members of the military. • The Third Amendment generally protects people from being forced to use
memoriter (m[schwa]-mor-[schwa]-t[schwa]r), adv. [Latin “with an accurate memory”] From memory; by recollection. • Memoriter proof of a written instrument is furnished by the recollection of a witness who knew the instrument.
scutage (skyoo-tij), n. [fr. Latin scutum “a shield”] Hist. 1. A monetary payment levied by the king on barons as a substitute for some or all of the knights to be supplied to the king by each baron. • This payment seems to date from the 12th century, Henry II (1154–1189) having levied five scutages
A crime committed to further another end or result; esp., a crime committed to obtain money to purchase a good or service. Cf. expressive crime.
instrumental crime Read More »
A program that allows a prisoner to be released for a few hours at a time to attend classes at a nearby college or technical institution. — Also termed study furlough.
dismiss, vb. 1. To send (something) away; specif., to terminate (an action or claim) without further hearing, esp. before the trial of the issues involved. 2. To release or discharge (a person) from employment. See DISMISSAL.
churning, n. 1. Securities. A stockbroker’s excessive trading of a customer’s account to earn more commissions rather than to further the customer’s interests; an abuse of a customer’s confidence for personal gain by frequent and numerous transactions, disproportionate to the size and nature of the customer’s account. • Under securities laws, the practice is illegal