judge-shopping. The practice of filing several lawsuits asserting the same claims — in a court or a district with multiple judges — with the hope of having one of the lawsuits assigned to a favorable judge and of nonsuiting or voluntarily dismissing the others. Cf. FORUM-SHOPPING.
salvage service. The aid or rescue given, either voluntarily or by contract, to a vessel in need of assistance because of present or apprehended danger. • Although salvage may involve towing, it is distinguished from towing service, which is rendered merely to expedite a voyage, not to respond to dangerous circumstances. [Cases: Salvage 6. C.J.S.
sanctity of contract. The principle that the parties to a contract, having duly entered into it, must honor their obligations under it. [Cases: Contracts 1. C.J.S. Contracts §§ 2–3, 9, 12.] “[Sanctity of contract] is merely another facet of freedom of contract, but the two concepts cover, to some extent, different grounds. The sanctity of
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forced labor. Int’l law. Work exacted from a person under threat of penalty; work for which a person has not offered himself or herself voluntarily. • Under the U.N. Convention on Civil and Political Rights (article 8), exemptions from this definition include (1) penalties imposed by a court, (2) compulsory military service, (3) action taken
Patents. A judicially created theory for finding patent infringement when the accused process or product falls outside the literal scope of the patent claims. • The doctrine evolved to prevent parties from evading liability for patent infringement by making trivial changes to avoid the literal language of the patent claims. Graver Tank & Mfg. Co.
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An agency created voluntarily, as by a contract. • Agency in fact is distinguishable from an agency relationship created by law, such as agency by estoppel. [Cases: Principal and Agent 8. C.J.S. Agency §§ 36–40.]
A corporation whose charter has expired or been revoked, relinquished, or voluntarily terminated. — Also termed dead corporation.
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Criminal procedure. A record that fails to disclose that a defendant voluntarily and knowingly entered a plea, waived a right to counsel, or took any other action affecting his or her rights. [Cases: Criminal Law 1144.1–1144.20.]
Chapter 7. 1. The chapter of the United States Bankruptcy Code allowing a trustee to collect and liquidate a debtor’s nonexempt property, either voluntarily or by court order, to satisfy creditors. [Cases: Bankruptcy 2251. C.J.S. Bankruptcy § 50.] 2. A bankruptcy case filed under this chapter. • An individual debtor who undergoes this type of
shelter, n. 1. A place of refuge providing safety from danger, attack, or observation. homeless shelter. A privately or publicly operated residential facility providing overnight accommodation free of charge to homeless people. • Most homeless shelters accept occupants on a first-come-first-served basis and are open only from early evening to early morning. Those that serve