Terms Used In Delaware Code > Title 18 > Chapter 68 - Health-Care Medical Negligence Insurance and Litigation

• 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.
• Affirmed: In the practice of the appellate courts, the decree or order is declared valid and will stand as rendered in the lower court.
• Allegation: something that someone says happened.
• 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.
• 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.
• Area of sales responsibility: means the geographical area, agreed to by the new recreational vehicle dealer and the manufacturer in the manufacturer-dealer agreement, within which the new recreational vehicle dealer has the exclusive right to display or sell the manufacturer's new recreational vehicles and new recreational trailers of a particular line-make to the retail public. See Delaware Code Title 21 Sec. 8402
• Assets: (1) The property comprising the estate of a deceased person, or (2) the property in a trust account.
• Attorney-at-law: A person who is legally qualified and licensed to practice law, and to represent and act for clients in legal proceedings.
• Attorney-in-fact: A person who, acting as an agent, is given written authorization by another person to transact business for him (her) out of court.
• Authority: means a body politic and corporate created pursuant to this chapter. See Delaware Code Title 22 Sec. 502
• Bail: Security given for the release of a criminal defendant or witness from legal custody (usually in the form of money) to secure his/her appearance on the day and time appointed.
• 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.
• Board: means the governing body of the authority. See Delaware Code Title 22 Sec. 502
• Bonds: means and includes the notes, bonds and other evidence of indebtedness or obligations which the authority is authorized to issue pursuant to § 504 of this title. See Delaware Code Title 22 Sec. 502
• Car sharing delivery period: means the period of time during which a shared vehicle is being delivered to the location of the car sharing start time, if applicable, as documented by the governing car sharing program agreement. See Delaware Code Title 21 Sec. 8602
• Car sharing period: means the period of time that commences with the car sharing delivery period or, if there is no car sharing delivery period, that commences with the car sharing start time and in either case ends at the car sharing termination time. See Delaware Code Title 21 Sec. 8602
• Car sharing program agreement: means the terms and conditions applicable to a shared vehicle owner and a shared vehicle driver that govern the use of a shared vehicle through a peer-to-peer car sharing program. See Delaware Code Title 21 Sec. 8602
• Car sharing start time: means the time when the shared vehicle becomes subject to the control of the shared vehicle driver at or after the time the reservation of a shared vehicle is scheduled to begin as documented in the records of a peer-to-peer car sharing program. See Delaware Code Title 21 Sec. 8602
• Car sharing termination time: means the earliest of any of the following events:

  a. See Delaware Code Title 21 Sec. 8602

• Charter amendment: means language which will amend, adopt or repeal a municipal charter. See Delaware Code Title 22 Sec. 801
• Chief executive officer: means the mayor if such there be or, if there be none, then it means the president of the legislative body of a municipal corporation or, if there be none, then it means the presiding officer of the legislative body of a municipal corporation. See Delaware Code Title 22 Sec. 801
• Child: means a person who has not reached the age of 18 years. See Delaware Code Title 1 Sec. 302
• City: means incorporated city or town. See Delaware Code Title 22 Sec. 502
• Commissioner: means the State Bank Commissioner. See Delaware Code Title 5 Sec. 2701
• Commissioner: means the Insurance Commissioner. See Delaware Code Title 18 Sec. 4801
• Committee: means the Cabinet Committee on State Planning Issues established pursuant to § 9101 of Title 29. See Delaware Code Title 22 Sec. 1902
• 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.
• Compact administrator: means the Secretary of Transportation. See Delaware Code Title 21 Sec. 8111
• Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
• Construction: means and includes acquisition and construction, and "to construct" means and includes to acquire and to construct, all in such manner as may be deemed desirable. See Delaware Code Title 22 Sec. 502
• Continuance: Putting off of a hearing ot trial until a later time.
• 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.
• 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.
• Dependent: A person dependent for support upon another.
• Discovery: Lawyers' examination, before trial, of facts and documents in possession of the opponents to help the lawyers prepare for trial.
• Distributor: means a person, firm, corporation, or business entity that purchases new recreational vehicles or new recreational trailers from a manufacturer for resale to new recreational vehicle dealers. See Delaware Code Title 21 Sec. 8402
• district: means an area within a municipality or unincorporated area designated as a Downtown Development District in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. See Delaware Code Title 22 Sec. 1902
• District plan: means the strategic plan or other detailed description of the overall strategy for the development of a proposed district submitted by the municipality or unincorporated area as part of its application for district designation. See Delaware Code Title 22 Sec. 1902
• dollars: means lawful money of the United States. See Delaware Code Title 1 Sec. 302
• Downtown: means that portion of a city, town, or unincorporated area that traditionally comprises its downtown or central business district, as determined by such city, town, or unincorporated area in accordance with guidelines promulgated by the Office. See Delaware Code Title 22 Sec. 1902
• Embezzlement: In most states, embezzlement is defined as theft/larceny of assets (money or property) by a person in a position of trust or responsibility over those assets. Embezzlement typically occurs in the employment and corporate settings. ^{Source: OCC}
• 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.
• Ex officio: Literally, by virtue of one's office.
• Executive head: means the Governor. See Delaware Code Title 21 Sec. 8111
• facilities: means lot or lots, buildings and structures above, at or below the surface of the earth, including equipment, entrances, exits, fencing and all other accessories necessary or desirable for the safety and convenience of the parking of vehicles. See Delaware Code Title 22 Sec. 502
• 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.
• Family member: means a spouse, child, grandchild, parent, sibling, niece, or nephew, or the spouse thereof. See Delaware Code Title 21 Sec. 8402
• Federal agency: means and includes the United States of America, the President of the United States of America and any department or corporation agency or instrumentality heretofore or hereafter created, designated or established by the United States of America. See Delaware Code Title 22 Sec. 502
• Fee simple: Absolute title to property with no limitations or restrictions regarding the person who may inherit it.
• Fifth-wheel trailer: means a vehicle, mounted on wheels, designed to provide temporary living quarters for recreational, camping, or travel use. See Delaware Code Title 21 Sec. 8402
• 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.
• Folding camping trailer: means a vehicle that is mounted on wheels and constructed with collapsible partial side walls that fold for towing by another vehicle and unfold at the campsite to provide temporary living quarters for recreational, camping, or travel use. See Delaware Code Title 21 Sec. 8402
• Fraud: Intentional deception resulting in injury to another.
• 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.
• Improvement: means and includes extension, enlargement and improvement, and "to improve" means and includes to extend, to enlarge and to improve, all in such manner as may be deemed desirable. See Delaware Code Title 22 Sec. 502
• 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}
• Instructor: means any person, whether acting as operator of a commercial driver training school or for any such school for compensation, who teaches, conducts classes of, gives demonstrations to or supervises practice of persons learning to operate or drive motor vehicles or preparing to take an examination for a driver's license or learner's permit, and any person who supervises the work of any other such instructor. See Delaware Code Title 21 Sec. 8301
• Lawsuit: A legal action started by a plaintiff against a defendant based on a complaint that the defendant failed to perform a legal duty, resulting in harm to the plaintiff.
• 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.
• Licensee: means a licensed casher of checks, drafts or money orders. See Delaware Code Title 5 Sec. 2701
• Licensee: means a premium finance company holding a license issued by the Commissioner under this chapter. See Delaware Code Title 18 Sec. 4801
• Licensing authority: means the Department of Transportation. See Delaware Code Title 21 Sec. 8111
• Lien: A claim against real or personal property in satisfaction of a debt.
• Life estate: A property interest limited in duration to the life of the individual holding the interest (life tenant).
• Line-make: means a specific series of new recreational vehicles or new recreational trailers that:

  a. See Delaware Code Title 21 Sec. 8402

• Litigation: A case, controversy, or lawsuit. Participants (plaintiffs and defendants) in lawsuits are called litigants.
• Manufacturer: means a person, firm, corporation, or business entity that engages in the manufacturing of new recreational vehicles or new recreational trailers. See Delaware Code Title 21 Sec. 8402
• Manufacturer-dealer agreement: means a written agreement or contract entered into between a manufacturer and a new recreational vehicle dealer that fixes the rights and responsibilities of the parties and pursuant to which the new recreational vehicle dealer sells new recreational vehicles or new recreational trailers. See Delaware Code Title 21 Sec. 8402
• Mobile unit: means any vehicle or other movable means from which the business of cashing checks, drafts or money orders is to be conducted. See Delaware Code Title 5 Sec. 2701
• Mortgage: The written agreement pledging property to a creditor as collateral for a loan.
• Mortgage loan: A loan made by a lender to a borrower for the financing of real property. ^{Source: OCC}
• Mortgagee: The person to whom property is mortgaged and who has loaned the money.
• Municipal corporation: includes all cities, towns and villages created before or after December 28, 1961, under any general or special law of this State for general governmental purposes which possess legislative, administrative and police powers for the general exercise of municipal functions and which carry on such functions through a set of elected and other officials. See Delaware Code Title 22 Sec. 801
• Municipality: means any incorporated town or city of this State. See Delaware Code Title 22 Sec. 1902
• Municipality: means any county, incorporated city or incorporated town of this State. See Delaware Code Title 22 Sec. 502
• New recreational trailer: means a travel trailer, fifth-wheel trailer, or folding camping trailer which has not been titled. See Delaware Code Title 21 Sec. 8402
• New recreational vehicle: means a motorhome which has not been titled. See Delaware Code Title 21 Sec. 8402
• New recreational vehicle dealer: means a person, firm, corporation, or business entity who is engaged in the business of buying, selling, or exchanging new recreational vehicles or new recreational trailers. See Delaware Code Title 21 Sec. 8402
• Nolo contendere: No contest-has the same effect as a plea of guilty, as far as the criminal sentence is concerned, but may not be considered as an admission of guilt for any other purpose.
• 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.
• Office: means the Office of State Planning Coordination. See Delaware Code Title 22 Sec. 1902
• 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.
• Peer-to-peer car sharing: means the authorized use of a vehicle by an individual other than the vehicle's owner through a peer-to-peer car sharing program. See Delaware Code Title 21 Sec. 8602
• Peer-to-peer car sharing program: means a business platform that connects vehicle owners with drivers to enable the sharing of vehicles for financial consideration. See Delaware Code Title 21 Sec. 8602
• Personal property: All property that is not real property.
• Persons: means and includes natural persons. See Delaware Code Title 22 Sec. 502
• Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
• Plea: In a criminal case, the defendant's statement pleading "guilty" or "not guilty" in answer to the charges, a declaration made in open court.
• Power of attorney: A written instrument which authorizes one person to act as another's agent or attorney. The power of attorney may be for a definite, specific act, or it may be general in nature. The terms of the written power of attorney may specify when it will expire. If not, the power of attorney usually expires when the person granting it dies. ^{Source: OCC}
• 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.
• Premium finance agreement: means an agreement by which an insured or prospective insured promises to pay to an insurance premium financing company the amount advanced or to be advanced under the agreement to an insurer or to an insurance agent or broker in payment of premiums on an insurance contract together with a service charge as authorized and limited by this chapter. See Delaware Code Title 18 Sec. 4801
• Presiding officer: A majority-party Senator who presides over the Senate and is charged with maintaining order and decorum, recognizing Members to speak, and interpreting the Senate's rules, practices and precedents.
• Probable cause: A reasonable ground for belief that the offender violated a specific law.
• Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
• Project: means any structure, facility or undertaking which the authority is authorized to acquire, construct, improve, maintain or operate under this chapter. See Delaware Code Title 22 Sec. 502
• Qualified voter: means those persons who, under the terms of a municipal charter, shall be authorized to vote in elections within that municipal corporation. See Delaware Code Title 22 Sec. 801
• Quorum: The number of legislators that must be present to do business.
• real property: is synonymous with the phrase "lands, tenements and hereditaments. See Delaware Code Title 1 Sec. 302
• Real property: Land, and all immovable fixtures erected on, growing on, or affixed to the land.
• 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.
• Restitution: The court-ordered payment of money by the defendant to the victim for damages caused by the criminal action.
• savings bank: as used in this chapter , refers to a corporation organized under this chapter. See Delaware Code Title 5 Sec. 1601
• school: means a business enterprise conducted by a person for the education and training of persons, either practically or theoretically, or both, to operate motor vehicles or to prepare an applicant for an examination given by the State for a driver's license or learner's permit and charging a consideration or tuition for such services. See Delaware Code Title 21 Sec. 8301
• Service of process: The service of writs or summonses to the appropriate party.
• 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.
• Shared vehicle: means a vehicle that is available for sharing through a peer-to-peer car sharing program. See Delaware Code Title 21 Sec. 8602
• Shared vehicle driver: means an individual who has been authorized to drive the shared vehicle by the shared vehicle owner under a car sharing program agreement. See Delaware Code Title 21 Sec. 8602
• Shared vehicle owner: means the registered owner, or a person or entity designated by the registered owner of a vehicle made available for sharing to shared vehicle drivers through a peer-to-peer car sharing program. See Delaware Code Title 21 Sec. 8602
• Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
• Statute of limitations: A law that sets the time within which parties must take action to enforce their rights.
• subsidiaries: shall include , in addition to those such corporations where the insurer owns a majority of their stock, those corporations formed or acquired by an insurer where it owns less than a majority of such corporation's voting stock due to the laws of a foreign national which require the insurer to own less than a majority of the voting stock of such subsidiary insurance corporation if it is to operate in that nation. See Delaware Code Title 18 Sec. 1313
• Summons: Another word for subpoena used by the criminal justice system.
• Supplier: means any person, firm, corporation, or business entity that engages in the manufacturing of new recreational vehicle or new recreational trailer parts, accessories, or components. See Delaware Code Title 21 Sec. 8402
• Testify: Answer questions in court.
• Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
• Tort: A civil wrong or breach of a duty to another person, as outlined by law. A very common tort is negligent operation of a motor vehicle that results in property damage and personal injury in an automobile accident.
• Transcript: A written, word-for-word record of what was said, either in a proceeding such as a trial or during some other conversation, as in a transcript of a hearing or oral deposition.
• Transient customer: means a customer who is temporarily traveling through a new recreational vehicle dealer's area of sales responsibility. See Delaware Code Title 21 Sec. 8402
• Travel trailer: means a vehicle, mounted on wheels, designed to provide temporary living quarters for recreational, camping, or travel use. See Delaware Code Title 21 Sec. 8402
• 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.
• Uniform Commercial Code: A set of statutes enacted by the various states to provide consistency among the states' commercial laws. It includes negotiable instruments, sales, stock transfers, trust and warehouse receipts, and bills of lading. ^{Source: OCC}
• Unincorporated area: means an area of the State having a concentration of population that is not a municipality and that is eligible to apply for and receive district designation in accordance with rules promulgated by the Office. See Delaware Code Title 22 Sec. 1902
• United States: includes its territories and possessions and the District of Columbia. See Delaware Code Title 1 Sec. 302
• Venue: The geographical location in which a case is tried.
• Verdict: The decision of a petit jury or a judge.
• Warrantor: means any person, firm, corporation, or business entity, including any manufacturer or supplier that provides a written warranty to the consumer in connection with a new recreational vehicle or new recreational trailer, or parts, accessories, or components thereof. See Delaware Code Title 21 Sec. 8402
• Writ: A formal written command, issued from the court, requiring the performance of a specific act.
• Writ of certiorari: An order issued by the Supreme Court directing the lower court to transmit records for a case for which it will hear on appeal.