Maine Revised Statutes > Title 5 > Part 20 > Chapter 425 > Subchapter 5 > Article 2 – Service Retirement Benefits
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Terms Used In Maine Revised Statutes > Title 5 > Part 20 > Chapter 425 > Subchapter 5 > Article 2 - Service Retirement Benefits
- Adjourn: A motion to adjourn a legislative chamber or a committee, if passed, ends that day's session.
- Adult: means a person who has attained the age of 18 years. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 1 Sec. 72
- Advertisement: means all representations disseminated in any manner or by any means, other than by labeling, for the purpose of inducing, or which are likely to induce, directly or indirectly, the purchase of food. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 22 Sec. 2152
- 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.
- Allegation: something that someone says happened.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Authority: means the Finance Authority of Maine as established by this chapter. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 10 Sec. 963-A
- Authority: means the Finance Authority of Maine. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 10 Sec. 1099-A
- Average final compensation: means :
A. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 5 Sec. 17001Bankruptcy: 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: means a person or persons designated by a member to receive a benefit under this Part or a person otherwise entitled to receive a benefit under this Part. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 5 Sec. 17001 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 Benefit: means any payment made, or required to be made, to a beneficiary under chapter 423, subchapter V or chapter 425, subchapter V. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 5 Sec. 17001 Board: means the board of trustees, established under section 12004?F, subsection 9, to administer the Maine Public Employees Retirement System. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 5 Sec. 17001 Board: means the Maine Motor Vehicle Franchise Board created pursuant to section 1187. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 10 Sec. 1171 Bond: means revenue obligation security. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 10 Sec. 963-A Broker: means a person who, for a fee, commission or other valuable consideration, arranges or offers to arrange a transaction involving the sale, for purposes other than resale, of a new motor vehicle and who is not:
A. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 10 Sec. 1171Chief executive officer: means the Chief Executive Officer of the Maine Public Employees Retirement System. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 5 Sec. 17001 Chief judge: The judge who has primary responsibility for the administration of a court but also decides cases; chief judges are determined by seniority. Child: means any natural or legally adopted, born or unborn, progeny of a member. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 5 Sec. 17001 Child or children: means a person who has not attained the age of 18 years. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 1 Sec. 72 Commissioner: means the Commissioner of Health and Human Services. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 22 Sec. 1-A Commissioner: means the Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry or the commissioner's duly authorized agents. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 22 Sec. 2152 Committee amendment: An amendment recommended by a committee in reporting a bill or other measure. Common law: The legal system that originated in England and is now in use in the United States. It is based on judicial decisions rather than legislative action. 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. Creditable service: means a person's membership service, the person's prior service and service for which credit is allowable under sections 17755 and 17756; section 17760, subsection 3; section 18258; sections 18355 and 18356; and section 18360, subsection 2. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 5 Sec. 17001 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. Department: means the Department of Health and Human Services. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 22 Sec. 1-A Department: means any department, commission, institution or agency of State Government including the Maine Community College System. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 5 Sec. 17001 Dependent: A person dependent for support upon another. Dependent child: means :
A. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 5 Sec. 17001Deposition: 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. Designated family member: means the spouse, child, grandchild, parent, brother or sister of the owner of a new motor vehicle dealer who, in the case of the owner's death, is entitled to inherit the ownership interest in the new motor vehicle dealer under the terms of the owner's will, or who, in the case of an incapacitated owner of a new motor vehicle dealer, has been appointed by a court as the legal representative of the new motor vehicle dealer's property. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 10 Sec. 1171 Discovery: Lawyers' examination, before trial, of facts and documents in possession of the opponents to help the lawyers prepare for trial. Distributor branch: means a branch office maintained by a distributor or wholesaler who or which sells or distributes new or used motor vehicles to motor vehicle dealers. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 10 Sec. 1171 Distributor representative: means a representative employed by a distributor branch, distributor or wholesaler. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 10 Sec. 1171 Docket: A log containing brief entries of court proceedings. Effective interest rate: means an annual percentage interest rate paid by the borrower. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 10 Sec. 1099-A Eligible entity: means any person, business, corporation, association, firm, partnership, municipality or other organization located in the State but does not include any agency of the State. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 10 Sec. 1099-A Employee: means :
A. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 5 Sec. 17001Energy generating system project: means :
A. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 10 Sec. 963-AEquitable: 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 Essential tool: means a tool, implement or other device required by the manufacturer, including but not limited to a tablet, scanner, diagnostic machine, computer, computer program, computer software, website, website portal or similar tool, with respect to which there is no other similar tool or device available from any source other than the manufacturer or the representative of a manufacturer that will perform the function necessary to the diagnosis or repair of a manufacturer's express warranty claim on a new motor vehicle. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 10 Sec. 1171 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. facility: means any aboveground oil storage tank or tanks, together with associated piping, and transfer and dispensing facilities located over land or water of the State at a single location for more than 4 months per year and used or intended to be used for the storage or supply of oil. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 10 Sec. 963-A Factory branch: means a branch office maintained by a manufacturer which manufactures or assembles motor vehicles for sale to distributors or motor vehicle dealers or which is maintained for directing and supervising the representatives of the manufacturer. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 10 Sec. 1171 Factory representative: means a representative employed by a manufacturer or employed by a factory branch for the purpose of making or promoting the sale of motor vehicles or for supervising, servicing, instructing or contracting motor vehicle dealers or prospective motor vehicle dealers. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 10 Sec. 1171 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. Federal Act: means the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (Title 21 U. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 22 Sec. 2152 financial assistance: means guarantees, leases, insurance, financing credits, loans or the purchase or discounts thereof, letters of credit, financing assistance payments, grants or other financial aid. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 10 Sec. 963-A Financial document: means a lease, installment sale agreement, conditional sale agreement, note, mortgage, loan agreement or other instrument pertaining to an extension of financial assistance. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 10 Sec. 963-A 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. Food: means articles used for food or drink for humans or other animals, chewing gum and articles used for components of any such article. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 22 Sec. 2152 Food establishment: includes a caregiver, as defined in section 2422, subsection 8?A, and a registered dispensary, as defined in section 2422, subsection 6, that prepare food containing cannabis for medical use by a qualifying patient pursuant to chapter 558?C. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 22 Sec. 2152 Food salvage establishment: means a food establishment engaged in reconditioning or by other means salvaging distressed merchandise and includes any food establishment that sells, buys, warehouses or distributes any salvaged merchandise. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 22 Sec. 2152 Foreclosure: A legal process in which property that is collateral or security for a loan may be sold to help repay the loan when the loan is in default. Source: OCC Franchise: means an oral or written arrangement for a definite or indefinite period in which a manufacturer, distributor or wholesaler grants to a motor vehicle dealer a license to use a trade name, service mark or related characteristic, and in which there is a community of interest in the marketing of motor vehicles or services related thereto at wholesale, retail, leasing or otherwise. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 10 Sec. 1171 Franchisee: means a motor vehicle dealer to whom a franchise is offered or granted. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 10 Sec. 1171 Franchisor: means a manufacturer, distributor or wholesaler who grants a franchise to a motor vehicle dealer. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 10 Sec. 1171 Fraud: Intentional deception resulting in injury to another. Fund: means the Waste Oil Furnace Loan Fund established by this subchapter. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 10 Sec. 1099-A Gift: A voluntary transfer or conveyance of property without consideration, or for less than full and adequate consideration based on fair market value. Good faith: means honesty in fact and the observation of reasonable commercial standards of fair dealing in the trade as is defined and interpreted in the Uniform Commercial Code, Title 11, section 1?1201, subsection (20). See Maine Revised Statutes Title 10 Sec. 1171 Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs. 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. in writing: include printing and other modes of making legible words. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 1 Sec. 72 Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury. Insured: means any individual, partnership, corporation, association or other entity which is the beneficiary of a loan insurance agreement with the authority. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 10 Sec. 963-A 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. Label: means a display of written, printed or graphic matter upon the immediate container of any article. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 22 Sec. 2152 Labeling: means all labels and other written, printed or graphic matter upon an article or any of its containers or wrappers, or accompanying such article. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 22 Sec. 2152 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 Lessee: means a tenant under a lease and may include an installment purchaser. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 10 Sec. 963-A Lien: A claim against real or personal property in satisfaction of a debt. Line make: means motor vehicles that are offered for sale, lease or distribution under a common name, trademark, service mark or brand name. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 10 Sec. 1171 Litigation: A case, controversy, or lawsuit. Participants (plaintiffs and defendants) in lawsuits are called litigants. Loan: means an extension of credit made in consideration of a written promise of repayment or any other conditions that may be established by the authority, performance of which may be secured by mortgage. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 10 Sec. 963-A Loan payments: means payments required by or received on account of a mortgage or any other financial document, including, but not limited to, payments covering interest, installments of principal, taxes, assessments, loan insurance premiums and hazard insurance premiums. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 10 Sec. 963-A Local district: means :
A. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 5 Sec. 17001Maine Job-start Program: means the program governed by subchapter VII. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 10 Sec. 963-A Majority: when used in reference to age shall mean the age of 18 and over. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 1 Sec. 72 manufacturer: includes the terms "franchisor" "distributor" "distributor branch" "factory branch" and "factory representative. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 10 Sec. 1171 Markup: The process by which congressional committees and subcommittees debate, amend, and rewrite proposed legislation. Member: means any person included in the membership of a retirement program of the retirement system, as provided in chapter 423, subchapter 2, or chapter 425, subchapter 2. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 5 Sec. 17001 Membership service: means service rendered while a member of a retirement program of the retirement system on account of which contributions are made and for which credit is allowable under chapter 423, subchapter 4 or chapter 425, subchapter 4. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 5 Sec. 17001 Month: means a calendar month. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 1 Sec. 72 Mortgage: means an agreement granting a lien upon or a security interest in eligible collateral upon certain conditions and includes, but is not limited to, a mortgage of real estate, an assignment of rents, a pledge or a security agreement. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 10 Sec. 963-A Mortgage: The written agreement pledging property to a creditor as collateral for a loan. Motor vehicle: means any motor-driven vehicle, except motorcycles and recreational vehicles defined under section 1432, subsection 18?A, required to be registered under Title 29?A, chapter 5. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 10 Sec. 1171 Motor vehicle dealer: means a person other than a manufacturer, distributor, distributor branch, distributor representative, factory branch or factory representative who sells or solicits or advertises the sale of new or used motor vehicles. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 10 Sec. 1171 Municipal officers: means municipal officers as defined in Title 30?A, section 2001, subsection 10. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 10 Sec. 963-A Municipal Securities Approval Program: means the program governed by subchapter IV. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 10 Sec. 963-A Municipality: means any municipality as defined in Title 30?A, section 2001, subsection 8. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 10 Sec. 963-A Municipality: includes cities, towns and plantations, except that "municipality" does not include plantations in Title 10, chapter 110, subchapter IV; or Title 30?A, Part 2. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 1 Sec. 72 Natural resource enterprise: means an agricultural enterprise or a fishing enterprise, but does not include selling of food at wholesale or retail, except when that selling is carried out as part of the natural resource enterprise. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 10 Sec. 963-A New motor vehicle: means a motor vehicle that has not been previously sold to any person except a distributor, wholesaler or motor vehicle dealer for resale by a franchise. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 10 Sec. 1171 NFPA: means the National Fire Protection Association. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 10 Sec. 1099-A 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. Normal retirement age: means the specified age, the years of service requirement or any combination of age and years of service requirements at which a member becomes eligible for retirement benefits and at which those benefits may not be reduced under section 17852, subsection 3 or 3?A; section 17852, subsection 10, paragraph C; and section 18452, subsection 3. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 5 Sec. 17001 Oath: includes an affirmation, when affirmation is allowed. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 1 Sec. 72 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. Participating local district: means a local district that has approved the participation of its employees in the Participating Local District Retirement Program of the retirement system under section 18201. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 5 Sec. 17001 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 a natural person, corporation, partnership, trust or other entity, and, in case of an entity, it shall include any other entity in which it has a majority interest or effectively controls as well as the individual officers, directors and other persons in active control of the activities of each such entity. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 10 Sec. 1171 Personal property: All property that is not real property. 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. 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. 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. Prior service: means service rendered before the date of establishment of the retirement system as set forth in section 17101. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 5 Sec. 17001 Probable cause: A reasonable ground for belief that the offender violated a specific law. Probate: Proving a will Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed. Professional: when used with reference to office space, means professions or professionals regulated or licensed under applicable state law. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 10 Sec. 963-A Program: means the Waste Oil Furnace Loan Program established by this subchapter. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 10 Sec. 1099-A Project: means any eligible project. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 10 Sec. 963-A Properly installed: means a boiler or furnace installed in accordance with NFPA Standard 31 or subsequent NFPA installation standards adopted by the Maine Fuel Board. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 10 Sec. 1099-A Qualified boiler or furnace: means any new or replacement boiler or furnace fueled wholly or in part by waste oil that produces energy for space heating or cooling or for use in a manufacturing process and is listed by the Maine Fuel Board as a waste oil boiler or furnace. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 10 Sec. 1099-A Quorum: The number of legislators that must be present to do business. Real estate: includes lands and all tenements and hereditaments connected therewith, and all rights thereto and interests therein. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 1 Sec. 72 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. Remand: When an appellate court sends a case back to a lower court for further proceedings. Reporter: Makes a record of court proceedings and prepares a transcript, and also publishes the court's opinions or decisions (in the courts of appeals). Retail food establishment: means a food establishment where food and food products are offered for sale to the consumer and intended for off-premise consumption. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 22 Sec. 2152 Retirement: means termination of membership with a retirement allowance granted under this chapter. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 5 Sec. 17001 Retirement allowance: means the retirement payments to which a member is or may be entitled as provided in this Part. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 5 Sec. 17001 Retirement benefit: means the same as retirement allowance. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 5 Sec. 17001 Retirement system: means the Maine Public Employees Retirement System. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 5 Sec. 17001 Sale: means the issuance, transfer, agreement for transfer, exchange, pledge, hypothecation, mortgage in any form, whether by transfer in trust or otherwise, of any motor vehicle or interest therein or of any franchise related thereto; and any option, subscription or other contract, or solicitation looking to a sale, or offer or attempt to sell in any form, whether spoken or written. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 10 Sec. 1171 Salvage broker: means a person, firm or corporation engaged in buying, selling, distributing or warehousing any distressed merchandise, whether or not in combination with other merchandise, which does not operate a food salvage establishment. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 22 Sec. 2152 security: means a note, bond, interim certificate, debenture or other evidence of indebtedness, including any recovery zone facility bond or qualified energy conservation bond, payment of which is secured by a pledge of revenues, as provided in section 1045?A or 1065, or by assignment or pledge of other eligible collateral. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 10 Sec. 963-A Service: means service as an employee for which compensation was paid. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 5 Sec. 17001 Service credit: means credit received for creditable service as defined under subsection 10. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 5 Sec. 17001 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. Spouse: means the person currently legally married to a member. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 5 Sec. 17001 Statute: A law passed by a legislature. Statute of limitations: A law that sets the time within which parties must take action to enforce their rights. Subpoena: A command to a witness to appear and give testimony. Successor manufacturer: means any manufacturer that succeeds, or assumes any part of the business of, another manufacturer, referred to as the "predecessor manufacturer" as the result of:
A. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 10 Sec. 1171Summons: Another word for subpoena used by the criminal justice system. Surviving spouse: means the spouse alive at the time of the death of the member or former member. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 5 Sec. 17001 tank: means any aboveground container, less than 10% of the capacity of which is beneath the surface of the ground, that is used or intended to be used for the storage or supply of oil. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 10 Sec. 963-A 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. Town: includes cities and plantations, unless otherwise expressed or implied. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 1 Sec. 72 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. Uniform Commercial Code: A set of statutes enacted by the various states to provide consistency among the states' commercial laws. It includes negotiable instruments, sales, stock transfers, trust and warehouse receipts, and bills of lading. Source: OCC United States: includes territories and the District of Columbia. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 1 Sec. 72 User: means one or more persons acting as lessee, purchaser, mortgagor or borrower under a financial document. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 10 Sec. 963-A User fees: Fees charged to users of goods or services provided by the government. In levying or authorizing these fees, the legislature determines whether the revenue should go into the treasury or should be available to the agency providing the goods or services. Value-added: means that an enhancement to a product or service that increases the value or marketability of the product or service has been applied. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 10 Sec. 963-A Variable Rate: Having a "variable" rate means that the APR changes from time to time based on fluctuations in an external rate, normally the Prime Rate. This external rate is known as the "index." If the index changes, the variable rate normally changes. Also see Fixed Rate. Venue: The geographical location in which a case is tried. Waste oil: means a petroleum-based oil that, through use or handling, has become unsuitable for its original purpose due to the presence of impurities or the loss of original properties. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 10 Sec. 1099-A wholesaler: means any person who sells or distributes new or used motor vehicles to motor vehicle dealers or who maintains distributor representatives within this State. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 10 Sec. 1171 Writ: A formal written command, issued from the court, requiring the performance of a specific act. Year: means a calendar year, unless otherwise expressed. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 1 Sec. 72