Legal Glossary

Formal charge of a felony issued by a prosecutor. Such is permissible if the defendant validly waives the indictment.

Latin: “Below.” Compare, SUPRA.

Property received by will or by law from someone who has died.

An order issued by a court that requires someone to do or not to do something.

A legal inquiry into the circumstances of the death of a human being; generally held before a court of law or an official legally empowered to hold such inquiries.

The condition of being unable to pay one’s debts.

Property originating from human intellect and the property rights obtained therein, such as copyright, patent, and trademark.

A tort claiming that one has intentionally acted in an extreme and outrageous way and has caused another to have emotional distress.

Latin: “Among other things.”

Latin: “Among other persons.”

Latin: “Between the living.” From one living person to another.

Provisional; temporary; not final.

The computer network of federal and non- federal interoperable packet switched data networks.

Procedure that permits a stakeholder of money or property to join potential claimants to avoid double or multiple liability.

Written questions served upon an opposing party to be returned with sworn answers.

One who by right or permission intervenes in a civil action.

Procedure that gives one claiming an interest relating to the property or transaction of a civil action the right to intervene to protect such interest.

See, PERMISSIVE INTERVENTION.

Without a will.

A tort claiming that one has intentionally intruded on another’s right to privacy or seclusion; intentionally used another’s likeness or photograph for business purposes without permission; intentionally and publically disclosed private information about another without permission; or intentionally and publically represented another in a false light.

To lure or entice.

One who enters premises at the express or implied invitation of the owner.

One who enters and remains on a business’s property by express or implied invitation of the business owner.

Latin: “By the fact itself.”

Latin: “By the law itself.”

Sending out orders or papers relating to the business of the court.

Procedure that permits one to join claims or persons to an action. Such allows for the efficient administration of justice by eliminating piecemeal litigation and balancing the rights of all persons whose interests are involved in an action.

Co-ownership of property by two or more persons with the right of survivorship. The deed or other instrument must clearly indicate the intent to create a joint tenancy with the right of survivorship, and not as tenants in common.

A final decision or order from which an appeal may be taken; the final determination of an action.

A judgment that becomes final upon compliance with certain statutory procedures, e.g., a judgment nisi ordering the forfeiture of bail.

A judgment that sets aside the verdict.

A court accepting into evidence, without requiring proof, an adjudicative fact not subject to reasonable dispute.

A court ordered sale.

Clause written at the bottom of an affidavit stating when, where and before whom the affidavit was sworn.

The power of the court to hear and decide a particular matter.

A member of a jury.

An official responsible for selecting potential jurors.

Instructions given to the jury of the law pertaining to the case.

See, PANEL.

Costs collected by the clerk or sheriff, as set forth in Miss. Code Section 9-7-133, as a fund for the payment of jurors.

Established by the Mississippi Constitution with limited criminal and civil jurisdiction, essentially misdemeanor offenses and small claims.

Remuneration in return for unlawfully soliciting business.

To seize or inveigle forcibly with intent to confine or imprison.

To terminate a life. Compare, MURDER.

Equitable defense barring recovery if a party has inexcusably delayed in asserting a right or claim which thereby resulted in undue prejudice.

A governmental conveyance of public land to a private individual.

1. As used in Mississippi’s Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, the owner, lessor or sublessor of the dwelling unit or the building of which it is a part, or the agent representing such owner, lessor or sublessor. 2. One with legal standing to sue the tenant for breach of the rental agreement.

Stealing the personal property of another. Grand larceny applies if the value of the property stolen is $1000.00 or more. Petit larceny applies if the value of the property stolen is less than $1000.00. See Miss. Code Ann. §§ 97-17-41 and -43.

A case or controversy brought before a court.

The lawyer who is principally in charge of a case.