war. 1. Hostile conflict by means of armed forces, carried on between nations, states, or rulers, or sometimes between parties within the same nation or state; a period of such conflict (the Gulf War). • A state of war may also exist without armed conflict; for example, the treaty formally ending the World War II […]
negotiable, adj. 1. (Of a written instrument) capable of being transferred by delivery or indorsement when the transferee takes the instrument for value, in good faith, and without notice of conflicting title claims or defenses. [Cases: Bills and Notes 144. C.J.S. Bills and Notes; Letters of Credit§§ 127, 129–130, 143.] 2. (Of a deal, agreement,
retainer, n. 1. A client’s authorization for a lawyer to act in a case (the attorney needed an express retainer before making a settlement offer). [Cases: Attorney and Client 64. C.J.S. Attorney and Client §§ 166, 169.] 2. A fee that a client pays to a lawyer simply to be available when the client needs
negotiate, vb. 1. To communicate with another party for the purpose of reaching an understanding (they negotiated with their counterparts for weeks on end). 2. To bring about by discussion or bargaining (she negotiated a software license agreement). 3. To transfer (an instrument) by delivery or indorsement, whereby the transferee takes the instrument for value,
A juror who hides a potentially disqualifying bias or conflict of interest in order to serve on a jury. • A stealth juror may want to influence the outcome of the trial or may plan to reap a financial benefit from having inside access to the jury deliberations, esp. by writing a book about a
disqualification, n. 1. Something that makes one ineligible; esp., a bias or conflict of interest that prevents a judge or juror from impartially hearing a case, or that prevents a lawyer from representing a party. [Cases: Judges 39; Jury 97. C.J.S. Judges §§ 62, 98, 100–102, 107; Juries §§ 225, 248, 370–373, 378–379, 398–399, 415,
characterization. 1. Conflict of laws. The classification, qualification, and interpretation of laws that apply to the case. — Also termed qualification; classification; interpretation. [Cases: Action 17. C.J.S. Actions §§ 18–20; Conflict of Laws §§ 2–3, 12, 15, 20, 23, 27–32, 34–40, 42–48, 50–65, 96–97, 100, 102, 105–107.] “In a conflict-of-laws situation, a court must determine
suspend, vb. 1. To interrupt; postpone; defer (the fire alarm suspended the prosecutor’s opening statement). 2. To temporarily keep (a person) from performing a function, occupying an office, holding a job, or exercising a right or privilege (the attorney’s law license was suspended for violating the Model Rules of Professional Conduct). [Cases: Licenses 38; Officers
reconciliation (rek-[schwa]n-sil-ee-ay-sh[schwa]n), n. 1. Restoration of harmony between persons or things that had been in conflict (a reconciliation between the plaintiff and the defendant is unlikely even if the lawsuit settles before trial). 2. Family law. Voluntary resumption, after a separation, of full marital relations between spouses (the court dismissed the divorce petition after the
transaction, n. 1. The act or an instance of conducting business or other dealings; esp., the formation, performance, or discharge of a contract. 2. Something performed or carried out; a business agreement or exchange. 3. Any activity involving two or more persons. 4. Civil law. An agreement that is intended by the parties to prevent