+ What is an Acquittal?

Definition - A jury verdict that a criminal defendant is not guilty, of the finding of a judge that the evidence is insufficient to support a conviction.

Explanation - A jury does not believe there is enough evidence to convict the defendant of the accused crimes.

+ What is an Appeal?

Definition - A request made after a trial by a party that has lost on one or more issues that a higher court review the decision to determine if it was correct. To make such a request is “to appeal” or “to take an appeal.” One who appeals is called the “appellant,” the other party is the “appellee.”

Explanation - If the losing party in a trial feels the decision made by the court was not correct, they may appeal the case and present it before a higher court. (Describe the appeal process and tie it into PI practice if possible. Also describe how many times someone may appeal a case and what the procedure is).

+ What is a Case Law?

Definition - The law as established in previous court decisions. A synonym for legal precedent. Akin to common law, which springs from tradition and judicial decisions.

Explanation - Decisions from prior cases help strengthen arguments during trial. Let’s take a premises liability case for instance: (mention notable cases that established precedents and link this to the “Slip and Fall” page on your site).

+ What is an Ad Litem?

Definition - A Latin term meaning for the purposes of the lawsuit. A guardian "ad litem" may be appointed by a court to stand in on another's behalf—someone who is incapable of representing him or herself, such as child or legally incompetent adult.

Adjudicate - To resolve a legal case

+ What is an Assumption of Risk?

Definition: When a person voluntarily proceeds with a risk despite obvious and known danger. In this situation, the individual assumed the risk and thus will not be permitted to seek monetary damages from those they believe to be responsible.

Explanation: Although very difficult to prove, this can be a powerful defense argument. The defendant will have to demonstrate enough evidence to prove that the danger was obvious and clearly stated. If you walked into a bathroom despite having seen a “Danger, Slippery when wet” sign in front of the doorway, you would be assuming the risk of injury should you slip and fall. The company would not hold any liability.

+ What are Civil Rights?

A group of rights possessed by all citizens under the protection of the U.S. Constitution. Civil law covers all individuals whose rights have been violated to file a lawsuit against another person, private companies, as well as government agencies in order to recover damages and modify practices that infringe on civil rights.

Explanation: Although our Constitution provides inherent rights to every citizen, the laws were not created to represent all persons and races equally. There have been several amendments made to the constitution regarding civil rights over the last hundred years, the most famous being the legislation that came out of the Women’s Liberation movement and the Civil Rights movement. The fight for equality and Civil Rights continues today.

+ What is a Claim (personal injury)?

A civil action relating to the physical or mental harm suffered by the plaintiff, or on behalf of the injured victim, due to negligence on the defendant's part.

Explanation: That’s what we do, handle your claims and hold wrongdoers accountable.

+ What is a Class-action Lawsuit?

A suit filed by a plaintiff or plaintiffs on behalf of themselves and as representatives of others. Class-action lawsuits are most often filed to hold a company accountable for the liability of its products, such as defective pharmaceutical drugs or toxic materials.

Explanation: (Find prominent PR related class action lawsuits, preferably in San Diego)

+ What is Comparative Negligence?

Comparing a plaintiff's contribution to the accident to the defendant's negligence. Under Tennessee's modified comparative fault system, a plaintiff may only recover compensation if his/her negligence is less than the defendant. In such cases, a plaintiff's total damages are reduced by the proportion they are determined to be at fault.

Explanation: If the court decides the plaintiff contributed to the accident in any way, there is a proportion deducted from the total compensation owed. If the court decides the plaintiff’s negligence is equal to or higher than the defendant, there is a chance that no compensation will be awarded. (Find a specific example for this).

+ What is Compensation?

Something that makes up for a loss. In workers' comp cases, it refers to payment to an injured worker or their dependants.

+ What are Damages?

Payment, usually monetary, recovered in a civil court case for an injury or loss caused by another person's negligence. Damages may be either compensatory or punitive.

Compensatory awards cover actual economic losses and are intended to make the plaintiff "whole" again, whereas punitive damages are intended to deter further misbehavior in the future by punishing the defendant for exceptionally grave misconduct that resulted in serious injuries or death, such as malice, fraud, oppression, or violence.

+ Who is the Defendant?

The party against whom the civil lawsuit has been filed (by the plaintiff).

+ What is Duty?

In cases of negligence, a "duty" refers to an obligation to provide a certain standard of care (see below). Failure to meet this obligation is negligence, and cause for legal action on the part of the injured individual.

Example: A landlord has a duty to make sure his facilities are clean, and free of any known dangers for his tenants. If he ignores complaints about an uneven sidewalk for instance, and someone gets hurt, the court will likely determine that he failed to meet his obligations and therefore is responsible for any injuries that occur as a result.

+ Who is the Expert Witness?

A person who is allowed to testify at a trial because of special knowledge or proficiency in a particular field that is relevant to the case.

Explanation: This term may be confusing because the person is not actually a witness of the event, but a field expert that can shed light on important elements that may relate to the case. For instance, a doctor may a field expert to explain how stage 4 bedsores occur and how they are almost a dead giveaway for medical malpractice.

+ What is Fraud?

A blatant false or deceptive statement of fact intended to persuade another person to give up something valuable or a legal right he/she is entitled to. The Tennessee Consumer Protection Act defines what constitutes as consumer fraud in the state.

+ What is Gross Negligence?

Intentional failure to perform a standard of duty by recklessly disregarding another person's health or property; also known as willful negligence.

Explanation: This can be applied a handful of ways. Medical malpractice can be considered gross negligence, stage 4 bedsores for example are a direct correlation to gross negligence. Another example would be a landlord that is made aware of a problematic staircase and does nothing about it.

+ What is Hazardous Exposure?

Physical contact with poisonous substances or proximity to toxic airborne agents that are potentially harmful to health. Liability for hazardous exposure may rest on several parties, including the manufacturer of the product, the company responsible for installation, as well as the owner of the building that contains toxic agents, such as a landlord or employer. Talk to a toxic injury attorney if you have been injured or gotten sick because of hazardous exposure.

Explanation: The Bronson Firm represented a plaintiff in a case against Herculaneum for hazardous exposure and successfully obtained a multi-million dollar settlement. The Clean Air act protects you from exposure to hazardous materials as a result of a company’s actions - the most common cases are related to manufacturing and energy.

+ What is a Lawsuit, or Suit?

A court action brought by one person, the plaintiff, against another, the defendant, with the goal of seeking compensation for some injury or punishment of a wrong.

+ What is a Liability?

An obligation one is bound to by law to perform; typically involved the payment of monetary damages.

+ What is a Litigation?

The process of taking legal action and/or filing a lawsuit.

+ What is a Loss of Consortium?

Damages awarded to the family member (usually a spouse) of a deceased person for loss of companionship.

+ What is Medical Malpractice?

Negligence by a professional health care provider, such as a doctor or surgeon, who departs from the applicable standard of care and by act or omission causes injury to a patient.

Explanation: These cases can vary from the everyday scenarios - like a physician administering a shot incorrectly that causes serious infection - to more serious suits that require thorough investigation. Stage 4 bedsores are a good example because they are only caused by negligence.

+ What are Medical Malpractice Caps?

Limits, or "caps," on the amount of compensation a victim of medical malpractice can seek out. These caps are intended to keep insurance premiums low and vary by state.

+ What are Mitigating Circumstances?

Conditions that do not constitute a justification or total pardon for an offense, but which may be used as a reason for reducing the degree of fault.

+ What is Negligence?

Broadly speaking, it is carelessness. More specifically, in civil law, negligence is conduct which falls below the standard of care established by law for the protection of others against unreasonable risks of harm.

+ What is Occupational Disease?

An illness caused by long-term employment in a particular line of work, such as construction workers exposed to asbestos, who later develop cancer.

+ What is Partial Disability?

In a workers' compensation case, this refers to disabilities that are less than total. Benefits are generally measured by the injured employee's earning capacity in these situations.

+ What is Personal Injury?

The area of law which covers all physical, financial, and emotional injuries caused by another person or party's negligence in using reasonable care. Personal injury cases are considered civil torts, as opposed to criminal lawsuits. Auto accidents and premises liability (slip/fall) are two of the most common types of personal injury cases.

+ Who is the Plaintiff?

In civil law, the person or party who brings the legal action or files the lawsuit; also called a complainant.

+ What is Premises Liability?

The legal responsibility of a property owner or occupier of a property to provide compensation for persons who sustain certain injuries while on their premises. For example, a person who is hurt from a slip and fall accident caused by a spill may be able to sue the property owner for negligence.

+ What is Preponderance of Evidence?

The amount of evidence a plaintiff needs to win a civil case. A preponderance of evidence means that the proof you present must weigh heavier or be more convincing in comparison to the evidence offered by the other side. To win by a preponderance of evidence, the proof presented must simply tip the scales in the plaintiff's favor, compared to the burden of proof standard set in criminal cases, which must be "beyond a reasonable doubt.

+ What is Products Liability?

The area of civil law that holds manufacturers, distributors, suppliers, retailers, and other parties who make a defective product available to the public responsible for injuries that the faulty product causes.

+ What is Proximate Cause?

The primary or moving reason why an injury or damage occurred and without which the accident would not have happened, if the injury in question can be foreseen as a natural occurrence of the misdeed.

+ What is a Settlement?

An agreement between both parties in a lawsuit.

+ What is a Specific Loss?

In a workers' comp case, this is the compensation for amputation or permanent paralysis of members of a worker's body, loss of hearing in one or both ears, loss of vision in one or both eyes, total or partial disability, and disfigurement.

+ What is Standard of Care?

For cases of negligence, the degree of care which a reasonable person would have applied under the same or similar circumstances. In medical malpractice lawsuits, doctors or health care professionals who fail to meet the standard established by law to protect patients from negligence, the person may be liable for damages or injuries resulting from their conduct. Visit our Tennessee Personal Injury Guide to learn more about standards of care in medical malpractice cases.

+ What are Statute of Limitations?

The amount of time prescribed by law for a plaintiff to file a lawsuit. Statutes can vary by case type and location of injury. Visit our Tennessee Personal Injury Guide to learn more about the statute of limitations in Tennessee.

+ What is Strict Liability?

A legal doctrine that holds a defendant liable for harm cause by their actions regardless of their intentions or level of care. Typically, strict liability is used in defective products or products liability cases.

+ What is Third Party Litigation?

When a case is brought against a defendant who wants to add another party to the suit. In workers' compensation law, third-party lawsuits are when an injury is caused by the act or negligence of another party other than the employer (i.e. the manufacturer of a defective tool).

+ What is a Tort?

A private wrong or injury committed against a person or property, resulting in legal liability. Personal injuries arising from negligence are a common example of one type of tort.

+ What is Total Disability?

In a workers' compensation case, damages awarded to an employee when they are totally impaired due to a work-related injury. Benefits at the total disability rate are typically two-thirds of wages up to a maximum weekly compensation rate, which in Tennessee is $886.60 per week for accidents occurring July 1, 2012 – June 30, 2013.

+ What is Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)?

An impact to the head that results in a diminished or altered state of consciousness and may impair a person's cognitive abilities, physical capacity, and/or a disturbance of emotional or behavioral functioning. Often occurs during severe auto accidents or sport-related injuries.

+ What is a Verdict?

A judge or jury's decision on a case.

+ What is Vicarious Liability?

The liability of one person for the torts of another.

+ What is Workers' Compensation (Workers' Comp)?

Mandatory insurance that almost all employers are required to hold in order to cover their employees for economic losses due to a job-related injury or illness.

+ What is Wrongful Death Action?

A lawsuit filed against an individual or company for the death of a person due to negligent or wrongful behavior. Wrongful death cases are generally filed by a surviving family member (typically spouse), who can recover damages for mental and physical suffering, lost wages, funeral and medical expenses for the deceased, loss of income and earning capacity, loss of consortium, and more.