Glossary of Car Accidents Law Terms

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z #

Click on the first letter of the word from the list above to go to the appropriate section of the glossary. Contact us if you would like more information about personal injury law terms.

Service: Delivery of a legal document to the opposite party.

Set aside: Annul or void as in "setting aside" a judgment.

Settlement: Conclusion of a legal matter.

Settlement conference: A meeting between parties of a lawsuit, their counsel and a judge to attempt a resolution of the dispute without trial.

Statute: A law created by the Legislature.

Statute of limitations: Law which specifies the time within which parties must take judicial action to enforce their rights.

Stay: Halting of a judicial proceeding by order of the court.

Stipulation: Agreement by the attorneys or parties on opposite sides of a case regarding any matter in the trial proceedings.

Subpoena: Document issued by the authority of the court to compel a witness to appear and give testimony or produce documentary evidence in a proceeding. Failure to appear or produce is punishable by contempt of court.

Subpoena duces tecum: "Under penalty you shall take it with you." A process by which the court commands a witness to produce specific documents or records in a trial.

Suit: Any court proceeding in which an individual seeks a decision.

Summons: Document or writ directing the sheriff or other officer to notify a person that an action has been commenced against him in court and that he is required to appear, on a certain day, and answer the complaint in such action.

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