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Ne exeat
A writ that forbids the person to whom it is addressed to leave the country, the state or the jurisdiction of the court.
Escrow
Writing, deed, money, stock, or other property is given to a third person to hold until all conditions in a contract are fulfilled.
Mens rea
Literally, "guilty mind." The intent required to commit the crime. One of the two basic requirements, along with the guilty act (actus reus), which constitute a crime.
Punitive damages
Lawyers regularly employed by the government to represent people accused of crimes who cannot afford to hire their own. The term may also be used to refer to a private firm receiving public money to defend indigent criminal defendants.
Malpractice
A lawsuit brought against a professional person, such as a doctor, lawyer or engineer, for injury or loss caused by the defendant's negligence in providing professional services.
Civil case
A lawsuit brought to enforce, redress, or protect private rights or to gain payment for a wrong done to a person or party by another person or party. In general, all types of actions other than criminal proceedings.
Concurrent sentence
Sentence under which two or more prison or jail terms are served simultaneously, and the prisoner is entitled to discharge when the longest term specified expires (i.e., sentences of 1 to 15 years and 0 to 5 years means a maximum sentence of 15 years). Differs from a consecutive sentence, which is when the sentences are served back-to-back. (A 1 to 15 and 0 to 5 consecutive sentence could mean up to 20 years).
Referral
Follows cross-examination, and is conducted by the party who first examined the witness.
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