Terms Used In California Codes > Code of Civil Procedure > Part 3 > Title 7 > Chapter 2 > Article 1 - Construction

• Account: means either of the two accounts created under Section 1067. See California Insurance Code 1067.04
• Admitted to transact insurance in this state: means an insurer possessing a valid certificate of authority issued by the department. See California Insurance Code 1063.1
• Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
• Affiliate: means a person who directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with an insolvent insurer on December 31 of the year next preceding the date the insurer becomes an insolvent insurer. See California Insurance Code 1063.1
• Alcohol: means any form or derivative of ethyl alcohol (ethanol). See California Harbors and Navigation Code 651
• Alcohol concentration: means either grams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood or grams of alcohol per 210 liters of breath. See California Harbors and Navigation Code 651
• Amendment: A proposal to alter the text of a pending bill or other measure by striking out some of it, by inserting new language, or both. Before an amendment becomes part of the measure, thelegislature must agree to it.
• Annuity: A periodic (usually annual) payment of a fixed sum of money for either the life of the recipient or for a fixed number of years. A series of payments under a contract from an insurance company, a trust company, or an individual. Annuity payments are made at regular intervals over a period of more than one full year.
• Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
• Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
• Appropriation: The provision of funds, through an annual appropriations act or a permanent law, for federal agencies to make payments out of the Treasury for specified purposes. The formal federal spending process consists of two sequential steps: authorization
• Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
• Assets: (1) The property comprising the estate of a deceased person, or (2) the property in a trust account.
• Associated equipment: means any of the following, excluding radio equipment:

  California Harbors and Navigation Code 651

• Association: means the California Life and Health Insurance Guarantee Association created pursuant to Section 1067. See California Insurance Code 1067.04
• Attachment: A procedure by which a person's property is seized to pay judgments levied by the court.
• Authorized: when used in the context of assessments, means authorized by a resolution of the board of directors. See California Insurance Code 1067.04
• Authorized assessment: means an assessment, to be called immediately or in the future from member insurers for a specified amount, that is authorized by a resolution of the board of directors. See California Insurance Code 1067.04
• Bankruptcy: Refers to statutes and judicial proceedings involving persons or businesses that cannot pay their debts and seek the assistance of the court in getting a fresh start. Under the protection of the bankruptcy court, debtors may discharge their debts, perhaps by paying a portion of each debt. Bankruptcy judges preside over these proceedings.
• bathing: means a person floating, swimming, wading, or bodysurfing, with or without the use of a flotation device, including, but not limited to, floating upon or with the aid of a surfboard, paddle board, surfmat, innertube, life preserver, or air mattress, except a flotation device which is designed to be propelled by sail, mechanical means, power, oars, or paddle. See California Harbors and Navigation Code 651.1
• Beneficiary: A person who is entitled to receive the benefits or proceeds of a will, trust, insurance policy, retirement plan, annuity, or other contract. ^{Source: OCC}
• Benefit plan: means a specific employee, union, or association of natural persons benefit plan. See California Insurance Code 1067.04
• Boat: means any vessel that is any of the following:

  California Harbors and Navigation Code 651

• Called: when used in the context of assessments, means required by notice to be paid by member insurers. See California Insurance Code 1067.04
• Called assessment: means an assessment as to which a notice has been issued by the association to member insurers requiring that an authorized assessment be paid within a timeframe set forth in the notice. See California Insurance Code 1067.04
• Chemical test: means a test that analyzes an individual's breath, blood, or urine for evidence of drug or alcohol use. See California Harbors and Navigation Code 651
• City: includes city and county. See California Harbors and Navigation Code 15
• City: includes "city and county. See California Insurance Code 15
• City: includes city and county and "incorporated town" but does not include "unincorporated town" or "village. See California Public Utilities Code 19
• Claimant: means an insured making a first party claim or a person instituting a liability claim. See California Insurance Code 1063.1
• Commission: means the Public Utilities Commission created by §. See California Public Utilities Code 20
• Commissioner: means the Insurance Commissioner of this State. See California Insurance Code 20
• Commissioner: means the Insurance Commissioner. See California Insurance Code 1067.04
• Common law: The legal system that originated in England and is now in use in the United States. It is based on judicial decisions rather than legislative action.
• Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
• Continuance: Putting off of a hearing ot trial until a later time.
• Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
• Contractual obligation: means any obligation under a policy or contract, or certificate under a group policy or contract, or portion thereof, for which coverage is provided under Section 1067. See California Insurance Code 1067.04
• Control: means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract other than a commercial contract for goods or nonmanagement services, or otherwise, unless the power is the result of an official position with or corporate office held by the person. See California Insurance Code 1063.1
• Controlled substance: means controlled substance as defined in §. See California Harbors and Navigation Code 651
• Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
• Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
• County: includes city and county. See California Harbors and Navigation Code 14
• County: includes "city and county. See California Insurance Code 14
• County: includes city and county. See California Public Utilities Code 18
• Covered claims: means the obligations of an insolvent insurer, including the obligation for unearned premiums, that satisfy all of the following requirements:

  California Insurance Code 1063.1

• Covered policy: means a policy or contract or portion of a policy or contract for which coverage is provided under Section 1067. See California Insurance Code 1067.04
• Covered vessel: as used in this article , means any of the following:

  California Harbors and Navigation Code 445.5

• Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
• Deed: The legal instrument used to transfer title in real property from one person to another.
• Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
• Department: means the Department of Motor Vehicles or any successor agency thereto which registers vehicles. See California Harbors and Navigation Code 501
• Department: means the Department of Boating and Waterways. See California Harbors and Navigation Code 651
• Dependent: A person dependent for support upon another.
• Director: means the Director of Boating and Waterways. See California Harbors and Navigation Code 651
• Dismissal: The dropping of a case by the judge without further consideration or hearing. ^Source:
• Docket: A log containing brief entries of court proceedings.
• Domestic: means organized under the laws of this State, whether or not admitted. See California Insurance Code 26
• Drug: means any substance or combination of substances other than alcohol that could so affect the nervous system, brain, or muscles of a person as to impair to an appreciable degree the person's ability to operate a vessel in the manner that an ordinarily prudent person, in full possession of their faculties, using reasonable care, would operate a similar vessel under like conditions. See California Harbors and Navigation Code 651
• Equitable: Pertaining to civil suits in "equity" rather than in "law." In English legal history, the courts of "law" could order the payment of damages and could afford no other remedy. See damages. A separate court of "equity" could order someone to do something or to cease to do something. See, e.g., injunction. In American jurisprudence, the federal courts have both legal and equitable power, but the distinction is still an important one. For example, a trial by jury is normally available in "law" cases but not in "equity" cases. ^{Source: U.S. Courts}
• Escrow: Money given to a third party to be held for payment until certain conditions are met.
• Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
• Executor: A male person named in a will to carry out the decedent
• Fair market value: The price at which an asset would change hands in a transaction between a willing, informed buyer and a willing, informed seller.
• Fiscal year: The fiscal year is the accounting period for the government. For the federal government, this begins on October 1 and ends on September 30. The fiscal year is designated by the calendar year in which it ends; for example, fiscal year 2006 begins on October 1, 2005 and ends on September 30, 2006.
• Foreclosure: A legal process in which property that is collateral or security for a loan may be sold to help repay the loan when the loan is in default. ^{Source: OCC}
• Foreign: means not organized under the laws of this State, whether or not admitted. See California Insurance Code 27
• Fraud: Intentional deception resulting in injury to another.
• Garnishment: Generally, garnishment is a court proceeding in which a creditor asks a court to order a third party who owes money to the debtor or otherwise holds assets belonging to the debtor to turn over to the creditor any of the debtor
• Germane: On the subject of the pending bill or other business; a strict standard of relevance.
• Gift: A voluntary transfer or conveyance of property without consideration, or for less than full and adequate consideration based on fair market value.
• Goods: includes wares or merchandise. See California Harbors and Navigation Code 24
• Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
• Impaired insurer: means a member insurer which, after the effective date of this article, is not an insolvent insurer, and is placed under an order of rehabilitation or conservation by a court of competent jurisdiction. See California Insurance Code 1067.04
• Indemnification: In general, a collateral contract or assurance under which one person agrees to secure another person against either anticipated financial losses or potential adverse legal consequences. ^{Source: FDIC}
• Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury.
• Insolvent insurer: means an insurer that was a member insurer of the association, consistent with paragraph (11) of subdivision (c), either at the time the policy was issued or when the insured event occurred, and against which an order of liquidation with a finding of insolvency has been entered by a court of competent jurisdiction, or, in the case of the State Compensation Insurance Fund, if a finding of insolvency is made by a duly enacted legislative measure. See California Insurance Code 1063.1
• Insolvent insurer: means a member insurer that, after October 1, 1990, is placed under an order of liquidation by a court of competent jurisdiction with a finding of insolvency. See California Insurance Code 1067.04
• Interest rate: The amount paid by a borrower to a lender in exchange for the use of the lender's money for a certain period of time. Interest is paid on loans or on debt instruments, such as notes or bonds, either at regular intervals or as part of a lump sum payment when the issue matures. ^{Source: OCC}
• Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
• Kiting: Writing a check in an amount that will overdraw the account but making up the deficiency by depositing another check on another bank. For example, mailing a check for the mortgage when your checking account has insufficient funds to cover the check, but counting on receiving and depositing your paycheck before the mortgage company presents the check for payment. ^{Source: OCC}
• Lease: A contract transferring the use of property or occupancy of land, space, structures, or equipment in consideration of a payment (e.g., rent). ^{Source: OCC}
• Liabilities: The aggregate of all debts and other legal obligations of a particular person or legal entity.
• Lien: A claim against real or personal property in satisfaction of a debt.
• Litigation: A case, controversy, or lawsuit. Participants (plaintiffs and defendants) in lawsuits are called litigants.
• Mail: means first-class mail, postage prepaid, unless registered mail is specified. See California Harbors and Navigation Code 501
• Manufacturer: means any person engaged in any of the following:

  California Harbors and Navigation Code 651

• Member insurer: means an insurer required to be a member of the association in accordance with subdivision (a) of Section 1063, except and to the extent that the insurer is participating in an insolvency program adopted by the United States government. See California Insurance Code 1063.1
• Member insurer: means any insurer licensed or which holds a certificate of authority to transact in this state any kind of insurance for which coverage is provided under Section 1067. See California Insurance Code 1067.04
• Mortgage: includes a trust deed, "mortgagor" includes a trustor under such trust deed, "mortgagee" includes a beneficiary under such trust deed, or a trustee exercising powers or performing duties granted to or imposed upon him thereunder, and "lien" in respect to real or personal property includes a charge or incumbrance arising out of a trust deed. See California Insurance Code 29
• Mortgage: The written agreement pledging property to a creditor as collateral for a loan.
• Mortgagee: The person to whom property is mortgaged and who has loaned the money.
• Mortgagor: The person who pledges property to a creditor as collateral for a loan and who receives the money.
• Motorboat: means any vessel propelled by machinery, whether or not the machinery is the principal source of propulsion, but shall not include a vessel that has a valid marine document issued by the United States Coast Guard or any federal agency successor thereto. See California Harbors and Navigation Code 651
• Net direct written premiums: means the amount of direct written premiums in the annual financial statement on file with the commissioner, adjusted for any premiums written for any lines of insurance or types of coverages not covered by this article, plus premiums written in this state for coverage under a special excess workers' compensation policy. See California Insurance Code 1063.1
• Obligation: An order placed, contract awarded, service received, or similar transaction during a given period that will require payments during the same or a future period.
• Operator: means the person aboard a vessel who meets any of the following:

  California Harbors and Navigation Code 651

• Owner: is a person having all the incidents of ownership, including the legal title, of a vessel whether or not that person lends, rents, or pledges the vessel. See California Harbors and Navigation Code 651
• Partnership: A voluntary contract between two or more persons to pool some or all of their assets into a business, with the agreement that there will be a proportional sharing of profits and losses.
• Passenger: means every person carried on board a vessel other than any of the following:

  California Harbors and Navigation Code 651

• Person: means an individual, partnership, firm, corporation, limited liability company, association, or other entity, but does not include the United States, the state, or a municipality or subdivision thereof. See California Harbors and Navigation Code 651
• Person: means any person, firm, association, organization, partnership, limited liability company, business trust, corporation, or company. See California Harbors and Navigation Code 19
• Person: means any person, association, organization, partnership, business trust, limited liability company, or corporation. See California Insurance Code 19
• Person: includes a corporation as well as a natural person. See California Code of Civil Procedure 17
• Person: means an individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association, governmental body or entity, or voluntary organization. See California Insurance Code 1067.04
• Personal property: All property that is not real property.
• Personal watercraft: means a vessel 13 feet in length or less, propelled by machinery, that is designed to be operated by a person sitting, standing, or kneeling on the vessel, rather than in the conventional manner of sitting or standing inside the vessel. See California Harbors and Navigation Code 651
• Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
• Plan sponsor: means any of the following:

  California Insurance Code 1067.04

• Precedent: A court decision in an earlier case with facts and law similar to a dispute currently before a court. Precedent will ordinarily govern the decision of a later similar case, unless a party can show that it was wrongly decided or that it differed in some significant way.
• Premiums: means amounts or considerations, by whatever name called, received on covered policies or contracts less returned premiums, considerations, and deposits and less dividends and experience credits. See California Insurance Code 1067.04
• Probable cause: A reasonable ground for belief that the offender violated a specific law.
• Prosecute: To charge someone with a crime. A prosecutor tries a criminal case on behalf of the government.
• Public law: A public bill or joint resolution that has passed both chambers and been enacted into law. Public laws have general applicability nationwide.
• Real property: Land, and all immovable fixtures erected on, growing on, or affixed to the land.
• Receivership court: means the court in the insolvent or impaired insurer's state having jurisdiction over the conservation, rehabilitation, or liquidation of the insurer. See California Insurance Code 1067.04
• Recreational vessel: means a vessel that is being used only for pleasure. See California Harbors and Navigation Code 651
• Remainder: An interest in property that takes effect in the future at a specified time or after the occurrence of some event, such as the death of a life tenant.
• Resident: means residing in this State, "nonresident" means not residing in this State. See California Insurance Code 30
• Resident: means a person to whom a contractual obligation is owed and who resides in this state on the date of entry of a court order that determines a member insurer to be an impaired insurer or a court order that determines a member insurer to be an insolvent insurer. See California Insurance Code 1067.04
• School district: means that district from which the member of the State Teachers' Retirement System last made contributions to the system before retirement. See California Education Code 7004
• Services: means the making of repairs or performing labor upon or to, and the furnishing of supplies or materials for, any vessel or any trailer used in connection with a vessel. See California Harbors and Navigation Code 501
• Settlement: Parties to a lawsuit resolve their difference without having a trial. Settlements often involve the payment of compensation by one party in satisfaction of the other party's claims.
• Spouse: means a spouse as defined by Section 22171. See California Education Code 7004
• State: means a state of the United States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the District of Columbia. See California Harbors and Navigation Code 651
• State: means the State of California, unless applied to the different parts of the United States. See California Harbors and Navigation Code 20
• State: means the State of California, unless applied to the different parts of the United States. See California Insurance Code 28
• State: means the State of California, unless applied to the different parts of the United States. See California Public Utilities Code 17
• State: means a state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and a United States possession, territory, or protectorate. See California Insurance Code 1067.04
• Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
• Storage: means the safekeeping, mooring, berthage, wharfage, or anchorage of a vessel and the providing of parking space for any trailer used in connection with the vessel. See California Harbors and Navigation Code 501
• Structured settlement annuity: means an annuity purchased in order to fund periodic payments for a plaintiff or other claimant in payment for, or with respect to, personal injury suffered by the plaintiff or other claimant. See California Insurance Code 1067.04
• Subdivision: means a subdivision of the section in which that term occurs unless some other section is expressly mentioned. See California Public Utilities Code 10
• Subpoena: A command to a witness to appear and give testimony.
• subscription: includes mark when the signer or subscriber can not write, such signer's or subscriber's name being written near the mark by a witness who writes his own name near the signer's or subscriber's name. See California Insurance Code 18
• Summons: Another word for subpoena used by the criminal justice system.
• Testify: Answer questions in court.
• Towing vessel: as used in this article , means any commercial vessel engaged in towing another vessel astern or alongside or by pushing it ahead. See California Harbors and Navigation Code 445.5
• Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
• Trustee: A person or institution holding and administering property in trust.
• Unallocated annuity contract: means an annuity contract or group annuity certificate which is not issued to and owned by an individual, except to the extent of any annuity benefits guaranteed to an individual by an insurer under the contract or certificate. See California Insurance Code 1067.04
• Unearned premium: means that portion of a premium as calculated by the liquidator that had not been earned because of the cancellation of the insolvent insurer's policy and is that premium remaining for the unexpired term of the insolvent insurer's policy. See California Insurance Code 1063.1
• Use: means operate, navigate, or employ. See California Harbors and Navigation Code 651
• Verdict: The decision of a petit jury or a judge.
• Vessel: includes ships of all kinds, steamboats, steamships, canal boats, barges, sailing vessels, and every structure adapted to be navigated from place to place for the transportation of merchandise or persons. See California Harbors and Navigation Code 21
• Vessel: includes every description of a watercraft or other artificial contrivance used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on water, except either of the following:

  California Harbors and Navigation Code 651

• vessel: includes any trailer used in connection with the vessel which is in the possession of the lienholder at the time the lien arises. See California Harbors and Navigation Code 501
• Waters of this state: means any waters within the territorial limits of this state. See California Harbors and Navigation Code 651
• Writ: A formal written command, issued from the court, requiring the performance of a specific act.