Legal Glossary - C

Cause - The reason a specific event has occurred. In legal situations, the plaintiff must prove that the defendant is responsible for causing damages.

Cause of Action - Sometimes also called a claim, it is a situation where one party has presented a set of facts that allows them to file a suit against another party.

Caveat - A Latin term that means �warning' or �beware'. In law, a caveat may also be a notice of or request to delay or postpone of a trial or other court proceeding.

Circumstantial Evidence - A collection of evidence that supports a theory that something happened. In other words, there may be no direct evidence that an individual committed a crime, but certain facts lead to that belief.

Collateral Source Rule - A defendant cannot submit into evidence the fact that damages that may have been received are being paid for by a third party, such as an insurance company, to avoid being penalized.

Complainant - Also called the plaintiff, it is the party who starts a lawsuit.

Complaint - A legal document submitted to the courts showing facts and legal reasons why the plaintiff believes they have a right to sue and receive remuneration from the defendant.

Contingent/Contingency Fee - A fee that is paid to an attorney or law firm when a case has a favorable outcome. Usually a percentage of the total amount awarded.

Corroborating Evidence - Further evidence that lends more support to a case that is already supported by some evidence. For instance, fingerprints found a murder weapon would support a witness who states that they saw the defendant using the weapon.

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