M law

Body of rules and principles that every member of society must follow

E codify

Compile, arrange, systemize, and write the laws of a given region into a
code

D civil law

Body of law imposed by the state or government for its citizens

F common law

Body of law based on custom and judicial precedent rather than on
codified statutes

C black letter law

Words committed to paper that govern

K default judgment

Occurs when a defendant in a lawsuit fails to respond to a complaint and
the court then rules in favor of the plaintiff by default

Q precedent

Concept of looking back at cases previously decided and following those
decisions for the sake of consistency and fairness

I criminal law

Law that concerns wrongs against persons or society

T tort

Legal wrong for which civil remedies for injuries or damages are provided

N litigation

Process of bringing a lawsuit against someone

P plaintiff

Person filing the civil suit in a court of law

J . defendant

Person who is being sued

H. complaint

Summarizes the plaintiff’s case against the defendant including the actual
harm done and the demand for compensation for damages incurred

A. answer

Explains the position of the defendant and his or her view on the
plaintiff’s allegations

S summons

Written request that establishes the plaintiff’s position in filing a
complaint and calls for the defendant to answer or appear in court

O. mediation

Process in which a neutral, uninterested third party helps the parties
involved in a dispute to negotiate a settlement or other resolution

B arbitration

Process in which the parties (and/or their attorneys) present their cases to
an arbitrator, who renders a decision

L deposition

Live, oral testimony under oath

R. remedy

Compensating the plaintiff for any injuries incurred

G. compensatory damage

� Damages designed to compensate the injured party for the injury that was
sustained