main-purpose rule. Contracts. The doctrine that if a promise to guarantee another’s debt is made primarily for the promisor’s own benefit, then the statute of frauds does not apply and the promise does not have to be in writing. — Also termed main-purpose doctrine; leading-object rule. [Cases: Frauds, Statute of 23.]
Property. The rule that if — in a single grant — a freehold estate is given to a person and a remainder is given to the person’s heirs, the remainder belongs to the named person and not the heirs, so that the person is held to have a fee simple absolute. • The rule, which
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retreat rule. Criminal law. The doctrine holding that the victim of a murderous assault must choose a safe retreat instead of resorting to deadly force in self-defense, unless (1) the victim is at home or in his or her place of business (the so-called castle doctrine), or (2) the assailant is a person whom the
Rule in Wild’s Case 怀尔德案规则 1599年怀尔德案中的规则。依该规则，在一份文件表明将地产权授予「甲和甲的子女」的情况下，如果在该文件生效时甲尚无子女，则该项地产权授予应理解为限嗣继承〔fee tail〕；如果在文件生效时，甲已有子女，则该项地产权授予应理解为共同保有〔joint tenancy〕。现在美国多数州，该规则已随着限嗣继承地产权的废除而被废除。
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adoptive-admissions rule. Evidence. The principle that a statement offered against an accused is not inadmissible hearsay if the accused is aware of the statement and has, by words or conduct, indicated acceptance that the statement is true. See adoptive admission under ADMISSION(1).
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slayer’s rule 「杀人者」规则 在此规则下，如果杀害行为是出于故意或恶意，则杀人者及其继承人都不能作为继承人或受遗赠人分配死者的遗产，也不能作为受益人获得死者人身保险的收益。但如果杀害行为非出于故意，即使出于重大过失，杀人者及其继承人也可以分配死者遗产或获得收益。
divide-and-pay-over rule. Wills & estates. The principle that if the only provisions in a testamentary disposition are words ordering that payment be made at some time after the testator’s death, time will be of the essence and the interest is future and contingent rather than vested and immediate. [Cases: Wills 630(6). C.J.S. Wills § 1339.]
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Maritime law. The statutory provision that an admiralty litigant is entitled to a jury trial in a contract or tort action if the lawsuit arises from the operation of a commercial vessel on the Great Lakes or the navigable waters connecting them. See 28 USCA § 1873. [Cases: Admiralty 80. C.J.S. Admiralty §§ 216–218.]
no-solicitation rule 〈美〉不怂恿原则 指在某些特殊地方禁止有组织的劳工活动。一些法院判决应在非营利医院适用该原则，有些法院则认定该原则违反《塔福特-哈特雷法》〔Taft-Hartley Act〕。
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