Terms Used In Louisiana Revised Statutes > Title 47 > Subtitle III > Chapter 2 - State Supervision of Levy and Assessment

• 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.
• 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
• 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.
• Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
• 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.
• 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
• 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
• 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.
• Commissioner: means the secretary of the Department of Public Safety as provided for in La. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 47:451
• Company: means a person, firm, association, organization, partnership, or corporation. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 47:1851
• Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
• Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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
• 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
• 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.
• 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
• Embezzlement: In most states, embezzlement is defined as theft/larceny of assets (money or property) by a person in a position of trust or responsibility over those assets. Embezzlement typically occurs in the employment and corporate settings. ^{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.
• 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.
• 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
• 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.
• 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.
• Foreign vehicles: means every motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer which shall be brought into the state otherwise than in the ordinary course of business by or through a manufacturer or dealer and which had not been registered in this state. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 47:451
• 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
• 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
• Gift: A voluntary transfer or conveyance of property without consideration, or for less than full and adequate consideration based on fair market value.
• 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
• 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
• Initial physical therapy evaluation: means the physical therapy assessment and resulting interpretation of a patient's condition through use of patient history, signs, symptoms, objective tests, or measurements to determine neuromusculoskeletal and biomechanical dysfunctions to determine the need for physical therapy. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 37:2407
• 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}
• 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.
• 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}
• 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.
• Litigation: A case, controversy, or lawsuit. Participants (plaintiffs and defendants) in lawsuits are called litigants.
• 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
• Manufacturer: means every person engaged in the business of designing, manufacturing, constructing or assembling new motor vehicles, trailers or semitrailers. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 47:451
• Mortgage: The written agreement pledging property to a creditor as collateral for a loan.
• 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
• 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
• 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.
• Nonresident: means every person who is not a resident of this state but does not include persons dwelling outside of this state whose occupation or business requires them to spend one-half or more of their working hours in this state in pursuance of their business or employment. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 47:451
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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
• Physical therapist: includes equally physiotherapist, physical therapist, and P. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 37:2407
• Physical therapist assistant: includes equally physical therapist assistant, physiotherapist assistant, and P. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 37:2407
• 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
• 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.
• 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.
• 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
• 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
• Prosecute: To charge someone with a crime. A prosecutor tries a criminal case on behalf of the government.
• 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
• Quorum: The number of legislators that must be present to do business.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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
• 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 38:1596.5
• Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
• Subpoena duces tecum: A command to a witness to produce documents.
• 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
• 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

• 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.
• Testify: Answer questions in court.
• Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
• 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.
• 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
• 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.
• 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
• Writ: A formal written command, issued from the court, requiring the performance of a specific act.
• Writ of certiorari: An order issued by the Supreme Court directing the lower court to transmit records for a case for which it will hear on appeal.