gang. A group of persons who go about together or act in concert, esp. for antisocial or criminal purposes. • Many gangs (esp. those made up of adolescents) have common identifying signs and symbols, such as hand signals and distinctive colors. — Also termed street gang.
contra (kon-tr[schwa]), prep. Against or contrary to. • As a citation signal, contra denotes that the cited authority supports a contrary view. In old law reports, contra often identifies the defendant’s attorney (pro que-rente refers to the plaintiff’s). “Observe in the note citing cases in support of a proposition mentioned in the text whether any
rescue doctrine. Torts. The principle that a tortfeasor who negligently endangered a person is liable for injuries to someone who reasonably attempted to rescue the person in danger. • The rationale for this doctrine is that an attempted rescue of someone in danger is always foreseeable. Thus, if the tortfeasor is negligent toward the rescuee,
Adoption and Safe Families Act. A 1997 federal law that requires states to provide safe and permanent homes for abused and neglected children within shorter periods than those required by earlier state and federal laws. • The primary focus is on the safety and well-being of the child, in contrast to previously paramount rights of
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vide (vI-dee alsovee-day). [Latin] See. • This is a citation signal still seen in some texts, esp. in the abbreviated form q.v. (quod vide “which see”).Vide ante or vide supra refers to a previous passage in a text; vide post or vide infra refers to a later passage.
Brussels Satellite Convention. Copyright. A 1974 treaty standardizing the regulation of broadcasting and cable retransmission using satellites. • Since the Convention addresses regulation of the signal rather than copyright or neighboring rights, what is transmitted is protected even if the content is not protected by any intellectual-property right. The U.S. ratified the Brussels Satellite Convention
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Acceptance of an offer not by explicit words but through the lack of an offeree’s response in circumstances in which the relationship between the offeror and the offeree justifies both the offeror’s expectation of a reply and the offeror’s reasonable conclusion that the lack of one signals acceptance. • Ordinarily, silence does not give rise
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flag, n. 1. A usu. rectangular piece of cloth, bunting, or other material decorated with a distinctive design and used as a symbol or signal. 2. Something symbolized by the display of a flag, such as a ship or nationality. See DUTY OF THE FLAG; LAW OF THE FLAG. flag of convenience. Int’l law. A
Int’l law. A white flag used as a signal when one belligerent wishes to communicate with the other in the field. • The bearers of such a flag may not be fired on, injured, or taken prisoner, as long as they carry out their mission in good faith.
accord, n. 1. An amicable arrangement between parties, esp. between peoples or nations; COMPACT; TREATY. 2. An offer to give or to accept a stipulated performance in the future to satisfy an obligor’s existing duty, together with an acceptance of that offer. • The performance becomes what is known as a satisfaction. — Also termed