Terms Used In Louisiana Revised Statutes > Title 51 > Chapter 43 - Louisiana Equal Housing Opportunity Act

• Agency: means a department, office, division, agency, commission, board, committee, or other organizational unit of a governmental entity. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 42:1102
• Agency head: means the chief executive or administrative officer of an agency or any member of a board or commission who exercises supervision over the agency. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 42:1102
• Aggrieved person: includes any person who:

              (a) Claims to have been injured by a discriminatory housing practice; or

              (b) Believes that he will be injured by a discriminatory housing practice that is about to occur. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 51:2603

• Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
• 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.
• Board: means the Board of Ethics. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 42:1102
• 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.
• Complainant: means that person who files a complaint pursuant to La. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 51:2603
• Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
• Conciliation: means the attempted resolution of issues raised by a complaint, or by the investigation of such complaint, through informal negotiations involving the aggrieved person, the respondent, and the attorney general or his designee. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 51:2603
• Conciliation agreement: means a written agreement setting forth the resolution of the issues in conciliation. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 51:2603
• Deed: The legal instrument used to transfer title in real property from one person to another.
• Disability: means , with respect to a person:

              (i) A physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more of such person's major life activities. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 51:2603

• Discriminatory housing practice: means an act that is unlawful pursuant to La. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 51:2603
• Dwelling: means any building, structure, or portion thereof which is occupied as, or designed or intended for occupancy as, a residence by one or more families, and any vacant land which is offered for sale or lease for the construction or location thereon at any such building, structure, or portion thereof. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 51:2603
• Elected official: means any person holding an office in a governmental entity which is filled by the vote of the appropriate electorate. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 42:1102
• 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.
• Familial status: means one or more individuals, who have not attained the age of eighteen years, being domiciled with:

              (i) A parent or another person having legal custody of such individual or individuals; or

              (ii) The designee of such parent or other person having such custody, with the written permission of such parent or other person. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 51:2603

• Governmental entity: means the state or any political subdivision which employs the public employee or employed the former public employee or to which the elected official is elected, as the case may be. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 42:1102
• his agency: when used in reference to the agency of a public servant shall mean:

              (i) For public servants in the twenty principal departments of the executive branch of state government, the office in which such public servant carries out his primary responsibilities; except that in the case of the secretary, deputy secretary, or undersecretary of any such department and officials carrying out the responsibilities of such department officers it shall mean the department in which he serves; and except that in the case of public servants who are members or employees of a board or commission or who provide staff assistance to a board or commission, it shall mean the board or commission. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 42:1102

• 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}
• Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury.
• 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.
• Mortgage: The written agreement pledging property to a creditor as collateral for a loan.
• Mortgagor: The person who pledges property to a creditor as collateral for a loan and who receives the money.
• Oath: A promise to tell the truth.
• Person: means an individual or legal entity other than a governmental entity, or an agency thereof. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 42:1102
• Person: includes one or more individuals, corporations, partnerships, associations, labor organizations, legal representatives, mutual companies, joint stock companies, trusts, unincorporated organizations, trustees, trustees in bankruptcy, receivers, and fiduciaries. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 51:2603
• Probable cause: A reasonable ground for belief that the offender violated a specific law.
• Public employee: means anyone, whether compensated or not, who is:

              (i) An administrative officer or official of a governmental entity who is not filling an elective office. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 42:1102

• Public servant: means a public employee or an elected official. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 42:1102
• 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.
• 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.
• Rescission: The cancellation of budget authority previously provided by Congress. The Impoundment Control Act of 1974 specifies that the President may propose to Congress that funds be rescinded. If both Houses have not approved a rescission proposal (by passing legislation) within 45 days of continuous session, any funds being withheld must be made available for obligation.
• Respondent: means the person or other entity accused in a complaint of a discriminatory housing practice, or, any other person or entity identified in the course of an investigation and notified that they are a respondent who shall be joined in the complaint. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 51:2603
• Service: means the performance of work, duties, or responsibilities, or the leasing, rental, or sale of movable or immovable property. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 42:1102
• 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.
• Subpoena: A command to a witness to appear and give testimony.
• 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.