| A | B |
|---|
| plaintiff | in a civil case, the injured party who brings legal action against the alleged wrongdoer |
| judgment | a court’s decision in a civil case |
| defendant | the person against whom a claim is made. In a civil suit, the person being sued |
| damages | money asked for or paid by court order to a plaintiff for injuries or losses suffered |
| liable | legally responsible |
| remedy | what is done to compensate for an injury or to enforce some right |
| settlement | a mutual agreement between two sides in a civil lawsuit, made either before the case goes to trial or before a final judgment is entered, that settles or ends the dispute |
| common law | a system in which court decisions establish legal principles and rules of law |
| statutes | written laws enacted by legislatures |
| intentional wrong/tort | an action taken deliberately to harm another person and/or his or her property |
| negligence | the failure to exercise a reasonable amount of care in either doing or not doing something, resulting in harm or injury to another person |
| strict liability | the legal responsibility for damage, or injury even if you are not negligent |
| civil law | all law that does not involve criminal matters, such as tort and contract law. Usually deals with private rights of individuals, groups or businesses |
| standard of proof | the level of certainty and the degree of evidence necessary to establish proof in a criminal or civil proceeding. The standard of proof in a criminal trial is generally beyond a reasonable doubt, whereas a civil case generally requires the lesser standard of preponderance of the evidence Preponderance of Evidence: usually the standard of proof used in a civil suit; the burden of proof that a party must meet in order to win the lawsuit. To win, a party must provide evidence that is more convincing than the other side’s evidence |
| immune | exempt from penalties, payments, or legal requirements; free from prosecution |
| waive | to give up some right, privilege or benefit voluntarily |
| class action | a lawsuit brought by one or more persons on behalf of a larger group |
| contingency fee | the fee paid to an attorney based on a percentage of the sum the client is awarded or settles for in a lawsuit |
| liability insurance | the type of coverage or insurance that pays for injuries to other people or damage to property if the individual insured is responsible for an accident during the term of the contract |
| premiums | payments made for insurance coverage |
| malpractice | failure to meet acceptable standards of practice in any professional or official position; often the basis for lawsuits by clients or patients against their attorney or doctor |
| medical coverage | insurance which covers an individual’s own medical expenses resulting from accidents |
| collision coverage | insurance that pays for damage to the insured’s own car caused by an automobile collision |
| deductible | the amount an insured person agrees to pay toward repairs before the insurance company pays anything |
| comprehensive coverage | the portion of an insurance policy that protects an individual against auto damages or losses other than collisions. It includes damages and losses due to fire, vandalism and theft |
| uninsured motorist coverage | insurance that protects drivers from those with no insurance or inadequate insurance. It compensates the injured for the personal injuries or damage the uninsured driver caused |
| no-fault insurance | law that requires every driver to file a claim with their own insurance company after an accident, regardless of who was at fault |
