Terms Used In Louisiana Revised Statutes > Title 38 > Chapter 5 - Drainage Districts Generally

• Affirmed: In the practice of the appellate courts, the decree or order is declared valid and will stand as rendered in the lower court.
• Airline: means a company engaged in the business of transporting passengers and/or property for hire on regularly scheduled flights within, into, or from this state. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 47:1851
• Allegation: something that someone says happened.
• Alternate: means an item on the bid form that may either increase or decrease the quantity of work or change the type of work within the scope of the project, material, or equipment specified in the bidding documents, or both. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 38:2211
• 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.
• Appellate: About appeals; an appellate court has the power to review the judgement of another lower court or tribunal.
• 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
• Assets: (1) The property comprising the estate of a deceased person, or (2) the property in a trust account.
• 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}
• Bidding documents: means the advertisement, plans and specifications, bidding form, bidding instructions, addenda, special provisions, and all other instruments prepared by or on behalf of the department for use by prospective bidders on a public contract. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 48:251.9
• Bidding documents: means the bid notice, plans and specifications, bid form, bidding instructions, addenda, special provisions, and all other written instruments prepared by or on behalf of a public entity for use by prospective bidders on a public contract. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 38:2211
• Change order: means any contract modification that includes an alteration, deviation, addition, or omission as to a preexisting public work contract, which authorizes an adjustment in the contract price, contract time, or an addition, deletion, or revision of work. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 38:2211
• Change order outside the scope of the contract: means a change order which alters the nature of the thing to be constructed or which is not an integral part of the project objective. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 38:2211
• Claimant: as used in this Chapter , means any person to whom money is due pursuant to a contract with the owner or a contractor or subcontractor for doing work, performing labor, or furnishing materials or supplies for the construction, alteration, or repair of any public works, or for transporting and delivering such materials or supplies to the site of the job by a for-hire carrier, or for furnishing oil, gas, electricity, or other materials or supplies for use in machines used in the construction, alteration, or repair of any public works, including persons to whom money is due for the lease or rental of movable property, used at the site of the immovable and leased to the contractor or subcontractor by written contract, and including registered or certified surveyors or engineers, or licensed architects, or their professional subconsultants, employed by the contractor or subcontractor in connection with the building of any public work. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 48:256.5
• 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.
• Commercial fishing boat: shall mean any water craft used in the occupation of fishing for profit. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 47:1690
• Commissioner: means the commissioner of conservation of the state of Louisiana. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 30:503
• Company: means a person, firm, association, organization, partnership, or corporation. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 47:1851
• Contract: means any contract awarded by the department for construction or maintenance of transportation facilities or work authorized by La. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 48:251.9
• contract: means any contract awarded by any public entity for the making of any public works or for the purchase of any materials or supplies. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 38:2211
• Contractor: means any individual, partnership, joint venture, firm, corporation, limited liability partnership, limited liability company, or any acceptable combination thereof contracting for performance of public work for the department. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 48:251.9
• Contractor: means any person or other legal entity who enters into a public contract. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 38:2211
• Credit: includes every claim and demand for money, labor, merchandise and other valuable things. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 47:1702
• 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.
• 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.
• Docket: A log containing brief entries of court proceedings.
• Electric membership corporation: means any non-profit association or corporation organized pursuant to Title 12, Chapter 4, Part I of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, which is engaged in the business of manufacturing, generating, supplying, or manufacturing, generating and supplying electricity for light, heat, or power to consumers in this state. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 47:1851
• Electric power company: means a company primarily engaged in the business of manufacturing, generating, supplying, or manufacturing, generating and supplying electricity for light, heat, or power to consumers in this state. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 47:1851
• Emergency: shall mean an unforeseen mischance bringing with it destruction or injury of life or property or the imminent threat of such destruction or injury, the result of an order from any judicial body to take immediate action which requires construction or maintenance without time to comply with the formalities of this Part. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 48:251.9
• Emergency: means an unforeseen mischance bringing with it destruction or injury of life or property or the imminent threat of such destruction or injury or as the result of an order from any judicial body to take any immediate action which requires construction or repairs absent compliance with the formalities of this Part, where the mischance or court order will not admit of the delay incident to advertising as provided in this Part. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 38:2211
• Enrolled bill: The final copy of a bill or joint resolution which has passed both chambers in identical form. It is printed on parchment paper, signed by appropriate officials, and submitted to the President/Governor for signature.
• Executor: A male person named in a will to carry out the decedent
• Express company: means a company engaged in the business of conveying merchandise or other articles by express for hire within, through, into, or from this state. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 47:1851
• extreme public emergency: means a catastrophic event which causes the loss of ability to obtain a quorum of the members necessary to certify the emergency prior to making the expenditure to acquire materials or supplies or to make repairs necessary for the protection of life, property, or continued function of the public entity. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 38:2211
• farm machinery: shall mean and include all motor propelled or motor operated mechanical devices used on a farm in the tilling of the soil and the production of crops, but shall not include any vehicle licensed for use on the public highways of this state. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 47:1690
• Fiduciary: A trustee, executor, or administrator.
• 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.
• Fraud: Intentional deception resulting in injury to another.
• front footage: as used in this Part shall mean the footage of each lot or parcel of real estate abutting the right of way, street, or drainage way along which the drainage line is constructed. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 38:1585
• front footage: as used in this Part shall mean the footage of each lot or parcel of real estate abutting the right of way, street, or drainage way along which the drainage line is constructed. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 38:1596.5
• 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
• Gas: means any gas derived from or composed of hydrocarbons, including synthetic gas which is produced from coal, lignite, or petroleum coke and the heat content of which synthetic gas does not exceed 800 BTUs per standard cubic foot. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 30:503
• Gas company: means a company engaged in the business of supplying artificial or natural gas through pipe or tubing for light, heat, or power to consumers in the state and which is regulated by the Louisiana Public Service Commission or by the governing authority of a political subdivision pursuant to Section 21 of Article IV of thethe Louisiana Constitution of 1974. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 47:1851
• Gasoline: shall mean any motor fuel which is subject to tax under Part I of Chapter 7 of Sub-title II of Title 47 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 47:1690
• Immovable property: means all things fixed and immovable by nature, destination or object, or disposition of law, whether owned or leased for a definite and specific term stated or which are continuously used or operated in Louisiana, including, but not limited to land, real estate, depots and station houses, buildings, tracks, repair and other shops, storage and other warehouses, excavations, channels, pole lines, docks, piers, or any structure or construction of permanent or quasi-permanent character. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 47:1851
• in writing: means the product of any method of forming characters on paper, other materials, or viewable screen, which can be read, retrieved, and reproduced, including information that is electronically transmitted and stored. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 38:2211
• Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury.
• 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}
• Joint committee: Committees including membership from both houses of teh legislature. Joint committees are usually established with narrow jurisdictions and normally lack authority to report legislation.
• Legislative session: That part of a chamber's daily session in which it considers legislative business (bills, resolutions, and actions related thereto).
• 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.
• Louisiana resident contractor: includes any person, partnership, association, corporation, or other legal entity and is defined as one of the following:

  (i)  An individual who has been a resident of Louisiana for two years or more immediately prior to bidding on work. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 48:251.9

• Major movable property: means all movable and regularly moved locomotives, cars, vehicles, craft, barges, boats, and similar things which have not the character of immovable property, either owned or leased for a definite and specific term, including, but not limited to, the engines, cars, and all rolling stock of railroad companies; the boats, barges, and other watercraft and floating equipment of barge line and towing companies; the rolling stock of private car companies; the flight equipment of airlines; but not including "other movable property" as defined in Subsection J. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 47:1851
• movable property: means and includes all things other than real estate which have any pecuniary value, all monies, credits, investments in bonds, stocks, franchises, shares in joint stock companies, or otherwise. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 47:1702
• Negotiate: means to participate in the process of entering into contracts or plan changes without formal advertising and public bidding with the intention of obtaining the best price and terms possible under the circumstances. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 48:251.9
• Negotiate: means the process of making purchases and entering into contracts without formal advertising and public bidding with the intention of obtaining the best price and terms possible under the circumstances. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 38:2211
• Oath: A promise to tell the truth.
• Other movable property: means all other property, corporeal or incorporeal, not included within the definitions of "immovable property" or "major movable property" and not immovable by nature or by disposition of law, which are so owned, leased, and so operated or used, including, but not limited to, material and supplies, inventories, fuel, leased rail, tools, furniture and fixtures, machinery, scales, pumps, water wells, communication equipment used solely in such enterprises and not available to the public, landing piers, docks, and all similar equipment. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 47:1851
• Oversight: Committee review of the activities of a Federal agency or program.
• Pipeline company: means any company that is engaged primarily in the business of transporting oil, natural gas, petroleum products, or other products within, through, into, or from this state, and which is regulated by (1) the Louisiana Public Service Commission, (2) the Interstate Commerce Commission, or (3) the Federal Power Commission, as a "natural gas company" under the Federal Natural Gas Act, 15 U. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 47:1851
• Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
• Plan change: means an alteration, deviation, addition, or omission as to a preexisting department construction or maintenance contract. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 48:251.9
• police jury: means the governing authority of the various parishes. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 38:1751
• 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.
• Private car company: means a company whose railway rolling stock, used either for freight or passenger purposes and whether owned or leased, is operated over any railroad within, through, into, or from this state, but not the rolling stock of any regularly incorporated railroad. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 47:1851
• Probable construction costs: means the estimate for the cost of the project as designed that is determined by the public entity or the designer. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 38:2211
• Property: includes every form, character and kind of property, real, personal, and mixed, tangible and intangible, corporeal and incorporeal, and every share, right, title or interest therein or thereto, and every right, privilege, franchise, patent, copyright, trade-mark, certificate, or other evidence of ownership or interest; bonds, notes, judgments, credits, accounts, or other evidence of indebtedness, and every other thing of value, in possession, on hand, or under the control, at any time during the calendar year for which taxes are levied, within the State of Louisiana, of any person, firm, partnership, association of persons, or corporation, foreign or domestic whether the same be held, possessed, or controlled, as owner, agent, pledgee, mortgagee, or legal representative, or as president, cashier, treasurer, liquidator, assignee, master, superintendent, manager, sequestrator, receiver, trustee, stakeholder, depository, warehouseman, keeper, curator, executor, administrator, legatee, heir, beneficiary, parent, attorney, usufructuary, mandatary, fiduciary, or other capacity, whether the owner be known or unknown; except in the cases of fire, life, or other insurance companies, the notes, judgments, accounts, and credits of nonresident persons, firms, corporations, partnerships, associations, or companies doing business in the State of Louisiana, originating from the business done in this state, are hereby declared to be property with its situs within this state. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 47:1702
• Public entity: means and includes the state of Louisiana, or any agency, board, commission, department, or public corporation of the state, created by the constitution or statute or pursuant thereto, or any political subdivision of the state, including but not limited to any political subdivision as defined in Article VI Section 44 of the Constitution of Louisiana, and any public housing authority, public school board, or any public officer whether or not an officer of a public corporation or political subdivision. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 38:2211
• Public service properties: means the immovable, major movable, and other movable property owned or used but not otherwise assessed in this state in the operations of each airline, electric membership corporation, electric power company, express company, gas company, pipeline company, railroad company, telegraph company, telephone company, and water company. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 47:1851
• Public work: means the erection, construction, alteration, maintenance, improvement, or repair of any highway, bridge, transportation facility, or immovable property owned, used, or leased by the department or any public entity for which the department is acting pursuant to an agreement. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 48:251.9
• Public work: means the erection, construction, alteration, improvement, or repair of any public facility or immovable property owned, used, or leased by a public entity. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 38:2211
• Railroad company: means a company primarily engaged in the business of operating a railroad or terminal either wholly or partially within this state on right-of-way owned, leased, or held exclusively by the company. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 47:1851
• Real property: Land, and all immovable fixtures erected on, growing on, or affixed to the land.
• Recourse: An arrangement in which a bank retains, in form or in substance, any credit risk directly or indirectly associated with an asset it has sold (in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles) that exceeds a pro rata share of the bank's claim on the asset. If a bank has no claim on an asset it has sold, then the retention of any credit risk is recourse. ^{Source: FDIC}
• Refundable purposes: shall mean the operating or propelling of any aircraft, any commercial fishing boat, any vehicle used by a licensed commercial fisherman in the administration of business associated with commercial fishing, any boat used to transport children to or from public or parochial schools, any farm tractor or any farm machinery used in the actual tilling of the soil and production of crops or any stationary motor used for agricultural purposes. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 47:1690
• Rolling stock: includes any kind of locomotive, car, or sleeping car used either for freight or passenger purposes, that may be operated over any railroad within this state. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 47:1702
• 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.
• square footage: shall mean the area of land measured in square feet to be drained by the improvements to be constructed. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 38:1585
• square footage: shall mean the area of land measured in square feet to be drained by the improvements to be constructed. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 38:1596.5
• Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
• Summons: Another word for subpoena used by the criminal justice system.
• Tax commission: means the Louisiana Tax Commission as established in Title 47, Section 1831 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, or its successor. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 47:1851
• taxpayers: includes firms, companies, associations and corporations; all words importing the masculine gender apply to females also, and all words in the plural number apply to single individuals in all cases in which the spirit and intent of this Chapter require it. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 47:1702
• Telegraph company: means a company primarily engaged in the business of transmitting telegraph messages within, through, into, or from this state. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 47:1851
• Telephone company: means a company primarily engaged in the business of transmitting telephone messages within, through, into, or from this state; however, the term "telephone company" shall not include any company that:

  (1)  Primarily is engaged in the business of owning, operating, or managing a radio common carrier, as defined in La. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 47:1851

• Testify: Answer questions in court.
• 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.
• 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.
• Venue: The geographical location in which a case is tried.
• Water company: means a company primarily engaged in the business of supplying water through pipe or tubing to consumers in this state with the exception of those exempt by thethe Louisiana Constitution of 1974, Article VII, Section 21(B)(1). See Louisiana Revised Statutes 47:1851