Terms Used In Louisiana Revised Statutes > Title 19 > Part VI - Expropriation by a Declaration of Taking by the Lafourche Parish Water District No. 1

• 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.
• 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.
• Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
• Dismissal: The dropping of a case by the judge without further consideration or hearing. ^Source:
• Governing body: means the board or body in which the bond issuing power of a governmental unit is vested. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 13:5121
• Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
• Probate: Proving a will
• property: means any portion of immovable property including servitudes, rights-of-way, and other rights in or to immovable property, but shall not include any property, utility plant, or facilities owned by any private waterworks or sewerage system. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 19:251
• Prosecute: To charge someone with a crime. A prosecutor tries a criminal case on behalf of the government.
• Service of process: The service of writs or summonses to the appropriate party.
• Summons: Another word for subpoena used by the criminal justice system.
• Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
• Writ: A formal written command, issued from the court, requiring the performance of a specific act.