Terms Used In Louisiana Revised Statutes > Title 47 > Subtitle II > Chapter 18 - Administrative 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.
• Affirmed: In the practice of the appellate courts, the decree or order is declared valid and will stand as rendered in the lower court.
• Annual percentage rate: The cost of credit at a yearly rate. It is calculated in a standard way, taking the average compound interest rate over the term of the loan so borrowers can compare loans. Lenders are required by law to disclose a card account's APR. ^{Source: FDIC}
• 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.
• Antique dealer: means any owner of an antique shop, or agent of the antique shop, and any person engaged in the business of buying, selling, trading in, or otherwise acquiring, disposing or exhibiting antiques, including but not limited to antique property, such as antique jewelry, antique silverware, antique pictures and paintings, antique objects of art, cemetery artifacts, used building components, antique furniture, antique collectibles and other such antique property. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 37:1871
• 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.
• Appellate: About appeals; an appellate court has the power to review the judgement of another lower court or tribunal.
• Appraisal: A determination of property value.
• 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
• Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
• Assets: (1) The property comprising the estate of a deceased person, or (2) the property in a trust account.
• Attachment: A procedure by which a person's property is seized to pay judgments levied by the court.
• 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.
• 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}
• Board: means the State Licensing Board for Contractors. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 37:2150.1
• Board of commissioners: means a group of persons appointed under the provisions of law to exercise certain authorities over and have oversight and control of a levee district or levee and drainage district. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 38:281
• Boat trailer: means a noncommercial vehicle of the trailer or semitrailer type used solely and exclusively for transporting pleasure watercraft and having a loaded gross weight of not more than one thousand five hundred pounds. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 47:451
• Cemetery artifact: means any object produced or shaped by human workmanship or tools, including ornaments of archaeological, historical, cultural, or sentimental significance or interest, which may be used to memorialize the dead and shall include but not be limited to all cemetery items, objects, and properties, including but not limited to any type of religious or sentimental addition or adornment, inside or outside of a tomb, gravesite, plot, mausoleum, vault or interment location, whether placed privately or by assignment, regardless of monetary worth, age, size, shape or condition, including but not limited to statues, bricks, signage, plaques, tablets, urns, pots, planters, benches, chairs, crosses or other religious symbols, vases, gates, fences, or any portions thereof. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 37:1871
• Chambers: A judge's office.
• Charge to the jury: The judge's instructions to the jury concerning the law that applies to the facts of the case on trial.
• Charity: An agency, institution, or organization in existence and operating for the benefit of an indefinite number of persons and conducted for educational, religious, scientific, medical, or other beneficent purposes.
• 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
• Commercial purposes: means any construction project except residential structures intended to be primarily occupied as a residence with no more than four separate dwelling units incorporated into one structure. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 37:2150.1
• Commercial use: means every use of a vehicle on the highway, except its private use unrelated to any business function, or its use as a common carrier or a contract or charter carrier. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 47:451
• Commercial vehicle: means every vehicle used or operated upon the public highways in connection with any business function except that of a common carrier or a contract or charter carrier, and except vehicles owned and used by churches, church schools, and religious orders for their purposes. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 47:451
• Commissioner: means the secretary of the Department of Public Safety as provided for in La. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 47:451
• Commissioner: means the commissioner of the Office of Financial Institutions within the office of the governor. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 37:1782
• Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
• Continuance: Putting off of a hearing ot trial until a later time.
• Contract: means an agreement to perform a scope of work that is regulated by this Chapter. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 37:2150.1
• Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
• contractor: includes persons who receive an additional fee for the employment or direction of labor, or any other work beyond the normal architectural or engineering services. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 37:2150.1
• 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.
• Current assets: include an investment made in cash, bank deposits, merchandise inventory and loans due from customers, excluding the pawn service charge. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 37:1782
• Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
• Dealer: means every person engaged regularly in the business of buying, selling, or exchanging motor vehicles, trailers, semitrailers, trucks, tractors, or other character of commercial or industrial motor vehicles in this state, and having an established place of business in this state, and using a special license plate issued hereunder solely for or in the bona fide transaction of such business and not otherwise, howsoever, or by whomsoever. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 47:451
• 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.
• Department: means the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, acting directly through its duly authorized officers and agents, or whatever state board, official, or body may hereafter be authorized by law to exercise the functions now devolving upon it under the law. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 47:451
• Dependent: A person dependent for support upon another.
• Deposition: An oral statement made before an officer authorized by law to administer oaths. Such statements are often taken to examine potential witnesses, to obtain discovery, or to be used later in trial.
• 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.
• Docket: A log containing brief entries of court proceedings.
• Electrical contractor: means any person who undertakes to, attempts to, or submits a price or bid or offers to construct, supervise, superintend, oversee, direct, or in any manner assume charge of the construction, alteration, repair, improvement, movement, demolition, putting up, tearing down, or furnishing labor together with material and equipment, or installing the same for the wiring, fixtures, or appliances for the supply of electricity to any residential, commercial, or other project, when the cost of the undertaking exceeds the sum of ten thousand dollars. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 37:2150.1
• Electronic funds transfer: The transfer of money between accounts by consumer electronic systems-such as automated teller machines (ATMs) and electronic payment of bills-rather than by check or cash. (Wire transfers, checks, drafts, and paper instruments do not fall into this category.) ^{Source: OCC}
• 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.
• Entitlement: A Federal program or provision of law that requires payments to any person or unit of government that meets the eligibility criteria established by law. Entitlements constitute a binding obligation on the part of the Federal Government, and eligible recipients have legal recourse if the obligation is not fulfilled. Social Security and veterans' compensation and pensions are examples of entitlement programs.
• 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 director: means the person appointed by the board to serve as the chief operating officer in connection with the day-to-day operation of the board's business. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 37:2150.1
• Executor: A male person named in a will to carry out the decedent
• 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.
• 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.
• Finance charge: The total cost of credit a customer must pay on a consumer loan, including interest. The Truth in Lending Act requires disclosure of the finance charge. ^{Source: OCC}
• 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
• 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
• 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
• General contractor: means a person who contracts directly with the owner. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 37:2150.1
• Gift: A voluntary transfer or conveyance of property without consideration, or for less than full and adequate consideration based on fair market value.
• Grand jury: agreement providing that a lender will delay exercising its rights (in the case of a mortgage,
• Gross weight: means the weight of a vehicle or vehicle combination without load on all axles, including the steering axle plus the weight of any load thereon. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 47:451
• Highway: includes every way or place of whatever nature open to the use of the public, for the purpose of vehicular travel. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 47:451
• Home improvement contracting: means the reconstruction, alteration, renovation, repair, modernization, conversion, improvement, removal, or demolition, or the construction of an addition to any preexisting residential structure which building is used or designed to be used as a residence or dwelling unit, or to structures which are adjacent to such residence or building where the project value exceeds seven thousand five hundred dollars but is not greater than seventy-five thousand dollars. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 37:2150.1
• Home improvement contractor: means any person who undertakes or attempts to undertake or submits a price or bid on any home improvement contracting project. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 37:2150.1
• 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}
• Indictment: The formal charge issued by a grand jury stating that there is enough evidence that the defendant committed the crime to justify having a trial; it is used primarily for felonies.
• 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}
• Interrogatories: Written questions asked by one party of an opposing party, who must answer them in writing under oath; a discovery device in a lawsuit.
• 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.
• Jurisprudence: The study of law and the structure of the legal system.
• Juror: A person who is on the jury.
• Law enforcement officer: means :

  (a)  The law enforcement officers of the office of state police and the probation and parole officers of the division of probation and parole of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 37:1782

• 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}
• Legislative session: That part of a chamber's daily session in which it considers legislative business (bills, resolutions, and actions related thereto).
• Levee and drainage district: means a political subdivision of this state organized for the purpose and charged with the duty of constructing and maintaining levees, drainage, and all other things incidental thereto within its territorial limits. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 38:281
• Levee district: means a political subdivision of this state organized for the purpose and charged with the duty of constructing and maintaining levees, and all other things incidental thereto within its territorial limits. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 38:281
• Liabilities: The aggregate of all debts and other legal obligations of a particular person or legal entity.
• License: means the certificate of authority to operate a pawnshop as issued by the commissioner. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 37:1782
• Lien: A claim against real or personal property in satisfaction of a debt.
• Litigation: A case, controversy, or lawsuit. Participants (plaintiffs and defendants) in lawsuits are called litigants.
• lot of used building components: shall mean a group of like used building components. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 37:1871
• Maturity date: means the last date subsequent to the pawn transaction upon which the pledgor can redeem a pledged thing. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 37:1782
• Mechanical contractor: means any person who undertakes to, attempts to, or submits a price or bid or offers to construct, supervise, superintend, oversee, direct, or in any manner assume charge of the construction, alteration, repair, improvement, movement, demolition, putting up, tearing down, or furnishing labor, or furnishing labor together with material and equipment, or installing the same for the construction, installation, maintenance, testing, and repair of air conditioning, refrigeration, heating systems, and plumbing for all residential, commercial, and industrial applications as well as ventilation systems, mechanical work controls, boilers and other pressure vessels, steam and hot water systems and piping, gas piping and fuel storage, and chilled water and condensing water systems and piping, including but not limited to any type of industrial process piping and related valves, fittings, and components, when the cost of the undertaking exceeds the sum of ten thousand dollars. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 37:2150.1
• Meeting: means a duly called meeting of the membership of a board when payment of per diem is authorized and such meeting is called for the express purpose of discussing activities or plans pertinent to the functions of the levee board itself. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 38:281
• Military surplus motor vehicle: means a wheeled, multipurpose or tactical motor vehicle manufactured for, and sold directly to, the Armed Forces of the United States in conformity with contractual specifications and subsequently authorized for sale to civilians. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 47:451
• Mold remediation contractor: means any person who engages in removal, cleaning, sanitizing, demolition, or other treatment, including preventative activities, of mold or mold-contaminated matter that was not purposely grown at that location and where the costs for such labor and materials exceed seven thousand five hundred dollars. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 37:2150.1
• Month: means that period of time from one date in a calendar month to the corresponding date in the subsequent calendar month. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 37:1782
• Mortgage: The written agreement pledging property to a creditor as collateral for a loan.
• Mortgagee: The person to whom property is mortgaged and who has loaned the money.
• Motor carrier: as used in this Chapter shall not include and this Chapter shall not apply to motor vehicles operated exclusively within the corporate limits of incorporated municipalities or to the vehicles of private persons transporting only the property of such private persons or their family, bona fide friends, or guests and not including such vehicles as are embraced in the proviso to paragraph (7)(a)(b) of this Section. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 47:451
• Motor vehicle: means every vehicle, as herein defined, which is self propelled. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 47:451
• Motorcycle: means every motor vehicle designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground, except any such vehicles as may be included within the classification "tractor" as herein defined. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 47:451
• Net assets: means the book value of current assets less applicable liabilities. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 37:1782
• 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.
• Oath: A promise to tell the truth.
• 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.
• Orleans Levee District: shall mean the levee district and political subdivision of the state which is referred to as the "Orleans Levee District" the "Board of Commissioners of the Orleans Levee District" or the "Orleans Levee Board". See Louisiana Revised Statutes 38:281
• Oversight: Committee review of the activities of a Federal agency or program.
• Owner: means a person who holds the legal title to a vehicle or in the event a vehicle is the subject of an agreement for the conditional sale, lease, or transfer of the possession, howsoever, thereof with right of purchase upon performance of the conditions stated in the agreement and with the right of immediate possession vested in such vendee, lessee, possessor, or in the event such similar transaction is had by means of mortgage and the mortgagor of a vehicle is entitled to possession, then such conditional vendee or lessee or possessor or mortgagor shall be deemed the owner for the purpose of this Chapter. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 47:451
• 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.
• Pawn transaction: means the lending of money on a deposit or pledge or taking other things into possession as security for money advanced. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 37:1782
• Pawnbroker: means a person who lends money on a deposit or pledge or who takes other things into possession as security for money advanced or who makes a public display at his place of business of the sign generally used by pawnbrokers to denote his business, namely, three gilt or yellow balls, or who publicly exhibits a sign that money is to be loaned on things on deposit. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 37:1782
• Pawnshop: means the location at which, or premises upon which, a pawnbroker regularly conducts business. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 37:1782
• Person: means any individual, firm, partnership, association, cooperative, corporation, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, or any other entity recognized by Louisiana law; and whether or not acting as a principal, trustee, fiduciary, receiver, or as any other kind of legal or personal representative, or as a successor in interest, assignee, agent, factor, servant, employee, director, officer, or any other representative of such person; or any state or local governing authority or political subdivision performing a new construction project which exceeds the contract limits provided in La. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 37:2150.1
• Person: means every natural person, individual, firm, copartnership, corporation, company, association, or joint stock association or other organization. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 47:451
• person: includes a body of persons, whether incorporated or not. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 1:10
• Person: means natural and juridical persons. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 37:1782
• Person: as used in this Part includes any corporation, or partnership, or two or more persons having a joint or common interest. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 37:1901
• Personal property: All property that is not real property.
• 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.
• Plea agreement: An arrangement between the prosecutor, the defense attorney, and the defendant in which the defendant agrees to plead guilty in exchange for special considerations. ^Source:
• 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.
• Plumbing contractor: means any person who installs, maintains, and repairs potable and nonpotable tap water or sewer systems within a building structure or residential structure when the cost of the undertaking exceeds the sum of ten thousand dollars. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 37:2150.1
• 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}
• 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.
• Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
• Proprietary: shall mean specific and specialized equipment installation, manufacturing processes, uses, or components that are protected from disclosure to third parties by the owner or manufacturer of the equipment. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 37:2150.1
• Prosecute: To charge someone with a crime. A prosecutor tries a criminal case on behalf of the government.
• Public law: A public bill or joint resolution that has passed both chambers and been enacted into law. Public laws have general applicability nationwide.
• Qualifying party: means a natural person designated by the contractor to represent the contractor for the purpose of complying with the provisions of this Chapter including without limitation meeting the requirements for the initial license and any continuation thereof. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 37:2150.1
• Quorum: The number of legislators that must be present to do business.
• Real property: Land, and all immovable fixtures erected on, growing on, or affixed to the land.
• Recess: A temporary interruption of the legislative business.
• 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
• 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.
• residential contractor: includes all persons who receive an additional fee for the employment or direction of labor, or any other work beyond the normal architectural or engineering services. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 37:2150.1
• Residential structure: means a building or structure that is used primarily for occupancy by a person as a residence. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 37:2150.1
• Restitution: The court-ordered payment of money by the defendant to the victim for damages caused by the criminal action.
• Road tractor: means every motor vehicle designed, constructed or used either by itself or for drawing other vehicles used in the construction and maintenance of roads, highways, or streets and not so constructed as to carry any load thereon either independently or as a part of the weight of a vehicle or load so drawn. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 47:451
• Semitrailer: means every single vehicle without motive power designed for carrying property or passengers and so designed in conjunction and used with a motor vehicle that some part of its own weight and that of its own load rests upon or is carried by another vehicle and having itself one or more load-carrying axles. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 47:451
• 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.
• 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
• Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
• Subcontract: means an agreement to perform a portion of the scope of work contained in the principal contract including the entire cost of labor and materials of that part of the principal contract which is performed by the subcontractor. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 37:2150.1
• Subcontractor: means a person who contracts to perform a scope of work that is a part of the scope of work contained in the principal contract. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 37:2150.1
• Subpoena: A command to a witness to appear and give testimony.
• Subtitle: means and includes all the Chapters in Subtitle II of this Title 47 and any other Title of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950 except the provisions of Chapter 1 of Subtitle IV of Title 47 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950 and estate taxes for the assessment, collection, administration, and enforcement of taxes, fees, licenses, penalties, and interest due the state of Louisiana which have been delegated to the Department of Revenue. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 47:1501
• Temporary restraining order: Prohibits a person from an action that is likely to cause irreparable harm. This differs from an injunction in that it may be granted immediately, without notice to the opposing party, and without a hearing. It is intended to last only until a hearing can be held.
• Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
• Things: means any property, movable and immovable, corporeal and incorporeal, and rights therein. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 37:1782
• 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.
• Tractor: means every vehicle designed, constructed, or used for drawing other vehicles. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 47:451
• Trailer: means every single vehicle without motive power designed for carrying property or passengers wholly on its own structure and designed to be drawn by a truck, tractor, or another motor vehicle and having two or more load carrying axles. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 47:451
• 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 merchant: as used in this Part means any person engaging temporarily in a retail or wholesale sale of goods, wares or merchandise, in any place in the State of Louisiana and who, for the purpose of conducting such business, occupies any lot, building, room or structure of any kind. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 37:1901
• Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
• Truck: means every motor propelled single vehicle for the conveyance of property or things for hauling purposes and having one front or steering axle and one rear or load carrying axle. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 47:451
• Trustee: A person or institution holding and administering property in trust.
• used building component: shall mean any object produced or shaped by human workmanship or tools that is an element of structural, architectural, archaeological, historical, ornamental, cultural, utilitarian, decorative, or sentimental significance or interest, which has been and may be used as an adjunct to or component or ornament of any building or structure, regardless of monetary worth, age, size, shape or condition, that is immovable property or fixture, including but not limited to bricks, siding, gutters, downspouts, lightning rods, chimney roofs, lights, chandeliers, stoves, tubs, sinks, faucets, faucet handles, toilets, bidets, showers, fans, furnaces, air conditioners, water heaters, sprinkling systems, shelving, countertops, cabinets, built-in speakers, shutters, trim, rafters, roof tiles, roofing, studs, foundation, barge boards, paneling, stairs, risers, banisters, wiring, plumbing, hinges, door latches, door knobs, medallions, mantles, flooring, carpet, tiles, molding, wainscoting, pavers, doors, windows, sills, transoms, joists, mailboxes, signage, fountains, decking, gates, fences, planters, landscaping, plantings or portions thereof, or component parts of immovable property of any nature or kind whatsoever. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 37:1871
• Vehicle: means every device in, upon, or by which any person, property, or thing is or may be transported or drawn upon a public highway excepting devices moved by human power or used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks; provided, that for the purpose of this Chapter, a bicycle or a ridden animal shall not be deemed a vehicle, and provided further that a trailer or semitrailer shall be held and deemed each to be and constitute a separate vehicle. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 47:451
• Venue: The geographical location in which a case is tried.
• Verdict: The decision of a petit jury or a judge.
• Voir dire: The process by which judges and lawyers select a petit jury from among those eligible to serve, by questioning them to determine knowledge of the facts of the case and a willingness to decide the case only on the evidence presented in court. "Voir dire" is a phrase meaning "to speak the truth."
• Writ: A formal written command, issued from the court, requiring the performance of a specific act.