Legal Glossary - P

Paralegal - A paralegal is a legal assistant that has training and experience regarding the legal system and procedural law which qualify them to work in a legal occupation under the supervision of an attorney.

Party - A party is the person, government agency, or business that is involved in either side of a legal proceeding (prosecution or defense).

Personal Injury - Personal injury is any injury to a person's mind, emotions or body, and not to property. Personal injury covers a variety of injuries from physical harm to emotional hardship.

Personal Representative - A personal representative is a person who stands in the place of another. Most often as a plaintiff or defendant you will have to sign a document stating your personal representative and that you give them the right to be such. This document needs to be approved by the judge and the opposite side of the lawsuit.

Petition - A petition is the formal request made by a plaintiff or defendant that the court takes action. A petition is a complaint and usually filed by the plaintiff as part of the lawsuit they are seeking.

Plaintiff - The plaintiff is the person who starts a lawsuit or action against a defendant or group of defendants in civil law.

Pleading - A pleading is a document that is filed in court that pertains to a legal case presented before the courts. These are written statements of law and fact that can be filed by either the prosecution or defense.

Power of Attorney - Power of attorney is a written document doe by one person that authorizes another person to take certain legal actions on behalf of the person who is giving the power of attorney.

Preponderance of the Evidence - The preponderance of the evidence is the amount of evidence that a plaintiff needs to present in order to win a civil suit. The weight and consideration of the evidence is more convincing compared to the evidence offered in opposition.

Prima Facie - Prima Facie means "at first sight". Prima Facie is evidence that is sufficient with its face value. The plaintiff with a prima facie case presents evidence to prevail on that evidence alone unless the defense can provide other evidence to overcome the plaintiff's Prima Facie evidence.

Probate - Probate is a court supervised process in which a last will and testament is determined to be the final statement and how the will-maker/deceased wants their property to be distributed. Probate will also confirm and appoint the personal representative for the estate. Probate also means where assets are gathered, applied to debts, expenses and taxes and then distributed to the beneficiaries as described in the last will and testament of the deceased.

Product Identification - Properly identifying a product, such as asbestos and the type of asbestos, as well as which company produced the product by using expert witnesses, information and research that has been gathered.

Product Liability - Product liability is an area of law that states the liability of manufacturers and sellers of defective or dangerous goods or products, such as the manufacturers of asbestos products.

Proximate Cause - Proximate cause is the primary cause of an injury that without the accident could not have happened. Also, if the injury is one that may be reasonably anticipated or seen as a consequence of a wrongful act.

Get More Information