Terms Used In Louisiana Revised Statutes > Title 16 > Chapter 1 - General Provisions

• 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.
• Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
• Appraisal: A determination of property value.
• Certification: means a certificate or certification received from an industry recognized organization or a Work Ready Certificate from the Louisiana Workforce Commission or a competency certification developed by the department. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 15:1199.3
• Council: means the Reentry Advisory Council. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 15:1199.3
• Craft: means an occupation or trade requiring manual dexterity, specified training, and certification or licensing. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 15:1199.3
• Department: means the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 15:1199.3
• Dependent: A person dependent for support upon another.
• Devise: To gift property by will.
• Discovery: Lawyers' examination, before trial, of facts and documents in possession of the opponents to help the lawyers prepare for trial.
• Dismissal: The dropping of a case by the judge without further consideration or hearing. ^Source:
• 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.
• Forgery: The fraudulent signing or alteration of another's name to an instrument such as a deed, mortgage, or check. The intent of the forgery is to deceive or defraud. ^{Source: OCC}
• Habeas corpus: A writ that is usually used to bring a prisoner before the court to determine the legality of his imprisonment. It may also be used to bring a person in custody before the court to give testimony, or to be prosecuted.
• In forma pauperis: In the manner of a pauper. Permission given to a person to sue without payment of court fees on claim of indigence or poverty.
• 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}
• Merger: means a business combination pursuant to La. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 12:1-1101
• 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.
• party to a share exchange: means any domestic or foreign corporation or eligible entity that will do any of the following:

  (1)  Merge under a plan of merger. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 12:1-1101

• Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
• 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.
• Pro se: A Latin term meaning "on one's own behalf"; in courts, it refers to persons who present their own cases without lawyers.
• Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
• Program: means the inmate rehabilitation and workforce development program operated by the Department of Public Safety and Corrections as authorized by the provisions of this Part. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 15:1199.3
• Prosecute: To charge someone with a crime. A prosecutor tries a criminal case on behalf of the government.
• Public defender: Represent defendants who can't afford an attorney in criminal matters.
• Restitution: The court-ordered payment of money by the defendant to the victim for damages caused by the criminal action.
• Secretary: means the secretary of the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 15:1199.3
• Share exchange: means a business combination pursuant to La. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 12:1-1101
• Skilled craftsman: means a person who has completed training and certification or licensing in a skilled craft or an apprentice occupation as defined by the Louisiana Workforce Commission which may include but is not limited to electrician, plumber, pipefitter, welder, millwright, heavy equipment operator, carpenter, heating, ventilation and air-conditioning technician, heavy construction, building construction, or machinist. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 15:1199.3
• Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
• Task force: means a parish or regional council comprised of governmental leaders and agency representatives from applicable state, tribal, or local entities, service providers, nonprofit organizations, and key stakeholders. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 15:1199.3
• Trustee: A person or institution holding and administering property in trust.
• Venue: The geographical location in which a case is tried.
• Workforce development work release: means a program for on-the-job training of inmates who are participating in or have completed the inmate rehabilitation and workforce development program authorized by the provisions of this Part. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 15:1199.3