statute of distribution. A state law regulating the distribution of an estate among an intestate’s heirs and relatives. • Historically, the statute specified separate, and often different, patterns for distributing an intestate’s real property and personal property. Generally, land descended to the heirs and personalty descended to the next of kin. — Also termed statute […]
statute of distribution Read More »
penumbra (pi-n[schwa]m-br[schwa]), n. A surrounding area or periphery of uncertain extent. • In constitutional law, the Supreme Court has ruled that the specific guarantees in the Bill of Rights have penumbras containing implied rights, esp. the right of privacy. Pl. penumbras, penumbrae (pi-n[ schwa]m-bree). — penumbral (pi-n[schwa]m-br[schwa]l), adj. “Problems of fringe meaning are sometimes spoken
A privilege that immunizes an actor from suit, no matter how wrongful the action might be, and even though it is done with an improper motive. Cf. qualified privilege. [Cases: Libel and Slander 36; Torts 16. C.J.S. Libel and Slander; Injurious Falsehood§§ 58, 65, 69; Right of Privacy and Publicity §§ 20, 28, 31–33, 44;
absolute privilege Read More »
seizure, n. The act or an instance of taking possession of a person or property by legal right or process; esp., in constitutional law, a confiscation or arrest that may interfere with a person’s reasonable expectation of privacy. [Cases: Arrest 68(4); Searches and Seizures 13. 1. C.J.S. Arrest § 45; Searches and Seizures§§ 8, 13,
wall. An erection of stone, brick, or other material raised to varying heights, esp. inside or surrounding a building, for privacy, security, or enclosure. ancient wall. A party wall that has stood for at least 20 years, thus giving each party an easement right to refuse to allow the other party to remove or substantially
appropriation, n. 1. The exercise of control over property; a taking of possession. Cf. EXPROPRIATION; MI-SAPPROPRIATION. 2. A legislative body’s act of setting aside a sum of money for a public purpose. • If the sum is earmarked for a precise or limited purpose, it is sometimes called a specific appropriation. [Cases: States 129. C.J.S.
automobile exception. An exception to the warrant requirement in Fourth Amendment search-and-seizure law, holding that the police may, without a warrant, thoroughly search a movable vehicle for which the individual has a lessened expectation of privacy (such as a car or boat) if probable cause exists. • For purposes of this doctrine, exigent circumstances are
automobile exception Read More »
cyberlaw (sI-b[schwa]r-law). The field of law dealing with the Internet, encompassing cases, statutes, regu-lations, and disputes that affect people and businesses interacting through computers. • Cyberlaw addresses issues of online speech and business because of the nature of the medium, including intellectual-property rights, free speech, privacy, e-commerce, and safety, as well as questions of jurisdiction.