trap, n. 1. A device for capturing living creatures, such as a pitfall, snare, or machine that shuts suddenly. mantrap. A booby-trap; esp., a device to catch a trespasser or burglar. • A mantrap is not illegal if it is designed merely to sound an alarm and not cause bodily harm. Illegal mantraps include manufactured […]
Corpus Juris Canonici (kor-p[schwa]s joor-is k[schwa]-non-[schwa]-sI). [Latin] Hist. The body of the canon law, compiled from the decrees and canons of the Roman Catholic Church. • The Corpus Juris Canonici emerged during the 12th century, beginning with the publication of Gratian’s Decretum (c. 1140). In addition to the Decretum, it includes Raymond of Peñaforte’s Liber
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intellectual property. 1. A category of intangible rights protecting commercially valuable products of the human intellect. • The category comprises primarily trademark, copyright, and patent rights, but also includes trade-secret rights, publicity rights, moral rights, and rights against unfair competition. [Cases: Copyrights and Intellectual Property 1. C.J.S. Copyrights and Intellectual Property §§ 2, 4–5.] 2.
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F.3d.abbr. The third series of the Federal Reporter, which includes federal appellate decisions from 1993.
A legal conclusion that the defendant was not negligent because the defendant either did not owe a duty of care to the injured party or did not breach any duty owed. • Courts decide questions of duty through policy judgments, which include the relative balance between risks and utilities.
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termination-for-convenience clause. A contractual provision allowing the government to terminate all or a portion of a contract when it chooses. • Among the governmental contracts that often include a termination-for-convenience clause are service contracts, research-and-development contracts, and fixed-price contracts. See 48 CFR § 52.249-1.
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Hist. 1.(Of a person) being absent from a jurisdiction or nation; out of the country, esp. across the ocean. • This term was used when a person could not be served with a summons, notice, etc. because the person was absent from the jurisdiction. Some jurisdictions toll the statute of limitations during a defendant’s absence.
community control. A criminal sentence whose terms include intensive and strict supervision of an offender in the community, as by restricting the offender’s movements and activities and conducting electronic surveillance, and providing severe sanctions for violations of any of the sentence’s terms.
Justice intended to protect against probable future misbehavior. • Specific types of preventive justice include appointing a receiver or administrator, issuing a restraining order or injunction, and binding over to keep the peace.
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lucri causa (loo-krIkaw-z[schwa]). [Latin] For the sake of gain. • Lucri causa was formerly an essential element of larceny, but today the thief’s intent to deprive the possessor of property is generally sufficient. See LARCENY. “ ‘Lucri causa’ literally means for the sake of gain. On rare occasions the suggestion has been made that no