Glossary of Legal Terms

Adjuster: Insurance company representative who investigates and evaluates claims
Answer: Defendant’s formal response to a lawsuit
Appeal: Request for higher court to review trial court’s decision
Arbitration: Alternative dispute resolution where neutral third party makes binding decision
Assumption of Risk: Defense arguing plaintiff knowingly accepted dangerous activity
Bad Faith: Insurance company’s unreasonable denial or delay of valid claims
Burden of Proof: Obligation to prove facts supporting your claim
Case Law: Legal principles established by court decisions
Causation: Link between defendant’s negligence and plaintiff’s injuries
Circumstantial Evidence: Indirect evidence suggesting facts without direct proof
Collateral Source Rule: Prevents reducing damages based on insurance or other benefits received
Comparative Negligence: System apportioning fault between parties (not used in Virginia)
Complaint: Initial document filing a lawsuit
Contingency Fee: Attorney payment based on percentage of recovery
Contributory Negligence: Virginia doctrine barring recovery if plaintiff is even 1% at fault
Damages: Monetary compensation for injuries and losses
Defendant: Party being sued
Deposition: Sworn testimony taken outside court
Direct Evidence: Evidence directly proving facts without inference
Discovery: Process of exchanging information between parties
Duty of Care: Legal obligation to act reasonably to prevent harm
Economic Damages: Objectively calculable losses like medical bills and lost wages
Expert Witness: Specialist providing opinion testimony about technical matters
General Damages: Subjective losses like pain and suffering
Guardian ad Litem: Representative appointed for minor or incapacitated party
Hearsay: Out-of-court statement offered for its truth (generally inadmissible)
Immunity: Legal protection from lawsuit
Impeachment: Attacking witness credibility
Independent Medical Examination: Defense doctor’s evaluation of plaintiff
Interrogatories: Written questions requiring sworn answers
Invitee: Person on property for owner’s benefit (owed highest duty)
Joint and Several Liability: Multiple defendants each fully responsible for damages
Judgment: Court’s final decision
Jurisdiction: Court’s authority to hear case
Jury Instructions: Legal rules judge gives jury before deliberation
Liability: Legal responsibility for harm
Licensee: Social guest on property
Lien: Claim against settlement proceeds
Litigation: Process of pursuing lawsuit
Loss of Consortium: Spouse’s claim for loss of relationship
Mediation: Settlement negotiation with neutral facilitator
Motion: Formal request for court ruling
Negligence: Failure to exercise reasonable care
Negligence Per Se: Automatic negligence from violating safety statute
Non-Economic Damages: Subjective losses like pain and suffering
Notice: Knowledge of dangerous condition
Opening Statement: Attorney’s initial presentation to jury
Ordinance: Local law
Pecuniary Loss: Financial loss
Personal Injury: Physical or psychological harm from another’s negligence
Plaintiff: Injured party bringing lawsuit
Pleadings: Formal documents filed in lawsuit
Precedent: Prior court decision establishing legal principle
Premises Liability: Property owner responsibility for dangerous conditions
Preponderance of Evidence: More likely than not standard of proof
Prima Facie: Evidence sufficient to prove case unless contradicted
Products Liability: Manufacturer/seller responsibility for defective products
Proximate Cause: Foreseeable connection between conduct and injury
Punitive Damages: Punishment for egregious conduct
Reasonable Person: Objective standard for evaluating conduct
Respondeat Superior: Employer liability for employee actions
Service of Process: Formal delivery of lawsuit documents
Settlement: Negotiated resolution without trial
Special Damages: Economic losses
Statute: Written law
Statute of Limitations: Time deadline for filing lawsuit
Strict Liability: Liability without proving negligence
Subpoena: Court order requiring appearance or documents
Subrogation: Insurance company’s right to recover payments from responsible party
Summary Judgment: Court decision without trial based on undisputed facts
Summons: Document notifying defendant of lawsuit
Tort: Civil wrong causing injury
Tortfeasor: Person committing tort
Trespasser: Person on property without permission
Trial de Novo: New trial on appeal
Verdict: Jury’s decision
Vicarious Liability: Liability for another’s actions
Voir Dire: Jury selection process
Waiver: Voluntary relinquishment of rights
Wrongful Death: Claim for damages from another’s death

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Jesse and the entire team are the first firm I'd suggest for representation for anyone in need. Jesse was a top tier professional when representing me in both a civil and criminal case, and there's not another person I'd turn to for advice, and legal matters moving forward. The entire…

- Robert J.

$2,225,000

Verdict in City of Richmond

$500,000

Chesterfield County settlement

$500,000

City of Richmond settlement

$450,000

Settlement – Wrongful Death

$400,000

Jury Verdict In New Kent County

Practice Areas

Testimonials

- Cody P.

- Emily S.

- Dre R.

- ronny m.

- Robert J.

Case Results

$2,225,000

$500,000

$500,000

$450,000

$400,000

Decades Of Experience
Helping The people of Virginia

Let’s Get In Touch.

location

Contact 804-570-7473

Glossary of Legal Terms

Practice Areas

Testimonials

- Cody P.

- Emily S.

- Dre R.

- ronny m.

- Robert J.

Case Results

$2,225,000

$500,000

$500,000

$450,000

$400,000

Decades Of Experience Helping The people of Virginia

Let’s Get In Touch.

location

Contact 804-570-7473

Decades Of Experience
Helping The people of Virginia