misdemeanor manslaughter

Unintentional homicide that occurs during the commission of a misdemeanor (such as a traffic violation).

misdemeanor manslaughter. See MANSLAUGHTER. MISDEMEANOR-MANSLAUGHTER RULE misdemeanor-manslaughter rule. The doctrine that a death occurring during the commission of a misdemeanor (or sometimes a nondangerous felony) is involuntary manslaughter. • Many states and the Model Penal Code have abolished this rule. Cf. FELONY-MURDER RULE. [Cases: Homicide 620–652.] “Companion to the felony-murder rule is the so-called misdemeanor-manslaughter