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Battered child syndrome (B.C.S.)
Physical condition of a child indicating that external or internal injuries result from acts committed by a parent or custodian. Also termed Parent Infant Trauma Syndrome (P.I.T.S.).
Inter alia
Among other things.
Deposition
The taking of testimony of a witness under oath outside of court, usually transcribed in writing by a court reporter, or less frequently, recorded on videotape.
Concurrent jurisdiction
The jurisdiction of two or more courts, each authorized to deal with the same subject matter.
Preponderance of evidence
Evidence that is (even minimally) of greater weight or more convincing than the evidence, which is offered in opposition to it. This is the standard by which a plaintiff must prove his/her case in a civil suit.
Manslaughter
A person recklessly causes the death of another, or acting under extreme emotional disturbance, causes the death of another, or acting under circumstances when a person reasonably believes the circumstances provide a legal justification or excuse for his conduct constitutes manslaughter.
Charge
The statement accusing a person of committing a particular crime. Also the judge's instructions to the jury on its duties, on the law involved in the case and on how the law in the case must be applied.
Assumption of risk
In tort law, a defense to a personal injury suit. The essence of the defense is that the plaintiff assumed the known risk of whatever dangerous condition caused the injury
Punitive damages
Lawyers regularly employed by the government to represent people accused of crimes who cannot afford to hire their own. The term may also be used to refer to a private firm receiving public money to defend indigent criminal defendants.
Precedent
A rule of law that is established by an appellate court in an earlier case serves as binding precedent in all subsequent similar cases.
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