Terms Used In Louisiana Revised Statutes > Title 13 > Chapter 8-A > Part II-A - Provisions Applicable to the First and Second Parish Courts, Jefferson Parish

• Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
• Approved institutions of higher education: shall mean Centenary College, Dillard University, St. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 17:1672
• Clerk of court: An officer appointed by the court to work with the chief judge in overseeing the court's administration, especially to assist in managing the flow of cases through the court and to maintain court records.
• Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
• Department: shall mean the state Department of Education. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 17:1672
• Dependent: A person dependent for support upon another.
• En banc: In the bench or "full bench." Refers to court sessions with the entire membership of a court participating rather than the usual quorum. U.S. courts of appeals usually sit in panels of three judges, but may expand to a larger number in certain cases. They are then said to be sitting en banc.
• 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}
• Ex officio: Literally, by virtue of one's office.
• Germane: On the subject of the pending bill or other business; a strict standard of relevance.
• 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.
• 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.
• Pleadings: Written statements of the parties in a civil case of their positions. In the federal courts, the principal pleadings are the complaint and the answer.
• property: means any portion of immovable property, including servitudes, rights-of-way, and other rights in or to immovable property; the term "governing authority" means the city of Lafayette and parish of Lafayette; and the term "project" means the Kaliste Saloom Road Widening Project or the construction, repair, or enhancement of drainage, roads, or bridges. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 19:139
• 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.
• 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.
• Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.