Terms Used In Michigan Laws > Chapter 691 > Act 343 of 2016 - Wrongful Imprisonment Compensation Act

• Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
• Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
• 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}
• Charges: means the criminal complaint filed against the plaintiff by a county prosecutor or the attorney general on behalf of the people of this state that resulted in the conviction and imprisonment of the plaintiff that are the subject of the claim for compensation under this act. See Michigan Laws 691.1752
• Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
• Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
• Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
• Discovery: Lawyers' examination, before trial, of facts and documents in possession of the opponents to help the lawyers prepare for trial.
• Dismissal: The dropping of a case by the judge without further consideration or hearing. ^Source:
• Fraud: Intentional deception resulting in injury to another.
• in writing: shall be construed to include printing, engraving, and lithographing; except that if the written signature of a person is required by law, the signature shall be the proper handwriting of the person or, if the person is unable to write, the person's proper mark, which may be, unless otherwise expressly prohibited by law, a clear and classifiable fingerprint of the person made with ink or another substance. See Michigan Laws 8.3q
• New evidence: means any evidence that was not presented in the proceedings leading to plaintiff's conviction, including new testimony, expert interpretation, the results of DNA testing, or other test results relating to evidence that was presented in the proceedings leading to plaintiff's conviction. See Michigan Laws 691.1752
• Plaintiff: means the individual making a claim for compensation under this act. See Michigan Laws 691.1752
• State correctional facility: means a correctional facility maintained and operated by the department of corrections. See Michigan Laws 691.1752
• This state: means the state of Michigan and its political subdivisions, and the agencies, departments, commissions, and courts of this state and its political subdivisions. See Michigan Laws 691.1752
• Verdict: The decision of a petit jury or a judge.