Additur

Latin.  “It is added to.” The term additur refers to the process by which a trial judge adds to a jury’s award of damages.  In a civil lawsuit, the plaintiff may file a motion to increase the amount of damages awarded by the jury.  The relief sought through such motion is “additur.”  If the court agrees […]

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Ad Seriatim

Latin for “one after another.” Examples: “The Court will address plaintiff’s arguments ad seriatim.”

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Abalienatio

Roman Law. The perfect conveyance or transfer of property from one Roman citizen to another. This term gave place to the simpler term alienatio, from which the English term “alienation” was formed.

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Ab Invito

Latin.  Unwillingly.  Against one’s free will. E.g., A transfer ab invito is a compulsory transfer that must be made notwithstanding the unwillingness of the transferor.

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Ab Initio

Latin.  “from the beginning” Examples: “A contract without consideration is invalid ab initio.” “A bigamous marriage is void ab initio.”

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A Priori

Latin.  From the cause to the effect.  A Latin term of logic that is used to denote that when one generally accepted truth is shown to be a cause, another particular effect must necessarily follow. WordNet 3.6 adj. a priori involving deductive reasoning from a general principle to a necessary effect; not supported by fact “an […]

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A Fortiori

The term “a fortiori” is a Latin term that means “with a stronger reason,” “all the more reason,” “even more certainly.” It refers to a logical or rhetorical technique where one concludes that if something is true in a stronger or more difficult case, it is certainly true in a weaker or less difficult case. […]

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Ab Absurdo

Latin for “from the absurd” “Ab absurdo” or “argumentum ab absurdo” are Latin phrases that refer to an assertion that leads to an absurd, contradictory, or impossible conclusion. In the law, the terms may refer to a statutory interpretation or an evidentiary suggestion that is, or leads to, an absurdity. Specifically, the term can refer […]

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