Business Law: Text and Cases, 13th Edition – Chapter 3 – Flashcards
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Closing argument
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An argument made after the plaintiff and defendant have rested their cases. Closing arguments are made prior to the jury charges.
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Complaint
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The pleading made by a plaintiff alleging wrongdoing on the part of the defendant; the document that, when filed with a court, initiates a lawsuit.
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Counterclaim
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A claim made by a defendant in a civil lawsuit that in effect sues the plaintiff.
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Cross-examination
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The questioning of an opposing witness during a trial.
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Default judgment
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A judgment entered by a court against a defendant who has failed to appear in court to answer or defend against the plaintiff's claim.
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Deposition
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The testimony of a party to a lawsuit or a witness taken under oath before a trial.
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Direct examination
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The examination of a witness by the attorney who calls the witness to the stand to testify on behalf of the attorney's client.
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Discovery
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A phase in the litigation process during which the opposing parties may obtain information from each other and from third parties prior to trial.
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E-evidence
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A type of evidence that consists of computer-generated or electronically recorded information, including e-mail, voice mail, spreadsheets, word-processing documents, and other data.
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Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (FRCP)
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The rules controlling procedural matters in civil trials brought before the federal district courts.
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Hearsay
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An oral or written statement made out of court that is later offered in court by a witness (not the person who made the statement) to prove the truth of the matter asserted in the statement. Hearsay is generally inadmissible as evidence.
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Impeach
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To challenge the credibility of a person's testimony or attempt to discredit a party or witness.
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Interrogatories
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A series of written questions for which written answers are prepared and then signed under oath by a party to a lawsuit, usually with the assistance of the party's attorney.
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Metadata
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Data that are automatically recorded by electronic devices and provide information about who created a file and when, and who accessed, modified, or transmitted it on their hard drives.Can be described as data about data.
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Motion
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A procedural request or application presented by an attorney to the court on behalf of a client.
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Motion for a directed verdict
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In a state court, a party's request that the judge enter a judgment in her or his favor before the case is submitted to a jury because the other party has not presented sufficient evidence to support the claim. The federal courts refer to this request as a motion for judgment as a matter of law.
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Motion for a new trial
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A motion asserting that the trial was so fundamentally flawed (because of error, newly discovered evidence, prejudice, or other reason) that a new trial is necessary to prevent a miscarriage of justice.
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Motion for judgment as a matter of law
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In a federal court, a party's request that the judge enter a judgment in her or his favor before the case is submitted to a jury because the other party has not presented sufficient evidence to support the claim. The state courts refer to this request as a motion for a directed verdict.
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Motion for judgment n.o.v.
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A motion requesting the court to grant judgment in favor of the party making the motion on the ground that the jury verdict against him or her was unreasonable and erroneous.
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Motion for judgment on the pleadings
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A motion by either party to a lawsuit at the close of the pleadings requesting the court to decide the issue solely on the pleadings without proceeding to trial. The motion will be granted only if no facts are in dispute.
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Motion for summary judgment
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A motion requesting the court to enter a judgment without proceeding to trial. The motion can be based on evidence outside the pleadings and will be granted only if no facts are in dispute.
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Motion to dismiss
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A pleading in which a defendant asserts that the plaintiff's claim fails to state a cause of action (that is, has no basis in law) or that there are other grounds on which a suit should be dismissed.
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Opening statement
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A statement made to the jury at the beginning of a trial by a party's attorney, prior to the presentation of evidence. The attorney briefly outlines the evidence that will be offered and the legal theory that will be pursued.
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Pleadings
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Statements made by the plaintiff and the defendant in a lawsuit that detail the facts, charges, and defenses involved in the litigation; the complaint and answer are part of the pleadings.
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Pretrial conference
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A conference, scheduled before the trial begins, between the judge and the attorneys litigating the suit. The parties may settle the dispute, clarify the issues, schedule discovery, and so on during the conference.
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Pretrial motion
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A written or oral application to a court for a ruling or order, made before trial.
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Rebuttal
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The refutation of evidence introduced by an adverse party's attorney.
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Rejoinder
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The defendant's answer to the plaintiff's rebuttal.
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Relevant evidence
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Evidence tending to make a fact at issue in the case more or less probable than it would be without the evidence. Only relevant evidence is admissible in court.
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Rules of evidence
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Rules governing the admissibility of evidence in trial courts.
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Service of process
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The delivery of the complaint and summons to a defendant.
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Summons
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A document informing a defendant that a legal action has been commenced against him or her and that the defendant must appear in court on a certain date to answer the plaintiff's complaint. The document is delivered by a sheriff or any other person so authorized.
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Verdict
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A formal decision made by a jury.
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Voir dire (pronounced vwahr deehr)
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A French phrase meaning, literally, to see, to speak. In jury trials, the phrase refers to the process in which the attorneys question prospective jurors to determine whether they are biased or have any connection with a party to the action or with a prospective witness.
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Writ of execution
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A court's order, after a judgment has been entered against the debtor, directing the sheriff to seize (levy) and sell any of the debtor's nonexempt real or personal property. The proceeds of the sale are used to pay off the judgment, accrued interest, and costs of the sale; any surplus is paid to the debtor.
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