BF Law Brochure
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Study Definitions
Defendant- a person arrested/accused of a crime.
Complaint- any formal document that sets out facts and legal reasons.
Summons-an order to appear before a judge or magistrate, or the writ containing it.
Pleadings- formal statements of the cause of an action or defense.
Pretrial conference- if the defendant answers the complaint,the parties will meet with a judicial officer in an attempt to narrow the issues, determine the number of witnesses to be called, the length of the trial, and to discuss the possibility of settlement.
More Definitions
Arbitration-the use of an arbitrator to settle a dispute.
Trial-a formal examination of evidence before a judge, and typically before a jury, in order to decide guilt in a case of criminal or civil proceedings.
Preponderance of evidence- A standard of proof that must be met by a plaintiff if he or she is to win a civil action.
Verdict-the jury's decision.
Appeal-apply to a higher court for a reversal of the decision of a lower court.