Article 690 Search Warrants
Article 700 Eavesdropping and Video Surveillance Warrants
Article 705 Pen Registers and Trap and Trace Devices
Article 710 Motion to Suppress Evidence
Article 715 Destruction of Dangerous Drugs

Terms Used In New York Laws > Criminal Procedure > Part 3 > Title T - Procedures For Securing Evidence By Means of Court Order and For Sup- Pressing Evidence Unlawfully or Improperly Obtained

  • Academic year: shall mean the regular school year beginning July first and ending June thirtieth. See N.Y. Education Law 651
  • accredited investor: shall mean (i) a natural person whose individual net worth (or joint net worth with his or her spouse) will exceed one million dollars at the time of purchase, or (ii) a natural person who has an individual income (exclusive of any income attributable to a spouse) of more than two hundred thousand dollars for the past two years or joint income with a spouse of more than three hundred thousand dollars in each of those years and has a reasonable expectation of reaching the same income level in the current year, or (iii) an entity in which each equity owner is an accredited investor under subparagraph (i) or (ii) of this paragraph, or (iv) either an organization described in section 501 (C)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, a corporation, a Massachusetts or similar business trust, or a partnership, in each case not formed for the specific purpose of acquiring the securities being offered, and with total assets in excess of five million dollars, or (v) a trust, with total assets in excess of five million dollars, not formed for the specific purpose of acquiring the securities, whose purchase of the securities is directed by a person who has such knowledge and experience in business and financial matters that he or she is capable, as defined by the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of evaluating the merits and risks of the prospective investment, or a bank, as defined in section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (A) acting in its fiduciary capacity as trustee, or (B) subscribing for the purchase of securities being offered on its own behalf. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 23.03
  • Acquittal:
    1. Judgement that a criminal defendant has not been proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
    2. A verdict of "not guilty."
     
  • Adjourn: A motion to adjourn a legislative chamber or a committee, if passed, ends that day's session.
  • advance ticket: shall mean a ticket of admission sold more than twelve hours in advance of the time of performance of the event for which the ticket is purchased. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 23.03
  • Advice and consent: Under the Constitution, presidential nominations for executive and judicial posts take effect only when confirmed by the Senate, and international treaties become effective only when the Senate approves them by a two-thirds vote.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Amount: shall include , but is not limited to, any dividend, profit or other distribution, whether in cash or securities, and any interest or other payment on or of principal, including the cash value of any security which has matured or has been called for full or partial redemption or is payable to security owners or former security owners entitled to payments as the result of a merger, consolidation, acquisition or conversion of any type. See N.Y. Abandoned Property Law 500
  • Amount: shall mean that term as defined in subdivision seven of section five hundred of this chapter. See N.Y. Abandoned Property Law 510
  • Animal: means any animal, domestic or feral, or any domesticated bird. See N.Y. Agriculture and Markets Law 96-Y
  • 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.
  • applicant: includes that person designated to act for him and perform his official function in and during his actual absence or disability. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 700.05
  • Applicant: means a district attorney, an assistant district attorney, and when empowered by law to conduct an investigation of or to prosecute or participate in the prosecution of a designated crime, the attorney general, an assistant attorney general, the deputy attorney general in charge of the statewide organized crime task force, or an assistant deputy attorney general of such task force. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 705.00
  • Appraisal: A determination of property value.
  • Appropriate institution: means : (a) a hospital operated by the office of mental health or a developmental center operated by the office for people with developmental disabilities; or (b) a hospital licensed by the department of health which operates a psychiatric unit licensed by the office of mental health, as determined by the commissioner provided, however, that any such hospital that is not operated by the state shall qualify as an "appropriate institution" only pursuant to the terms of an agreement between the commissioner and the hospital. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 730.10
  • 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
  • Arraignment: A proceeding in which an individual who is accused of committing a crime is brought into court, told of the charges, and asked to plead guilty or not guilty.
  • Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
  • art merchant: includes an auctioneer who sells such works at public auction, and except in the case of multiples, includes persons, not otherwise defined or treated as art merchants herein, who are consignors or principals of auctioneers. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 11.01
  • Artist: means the creator of a work of fine art or, in the case of multiples, the person who conceived or created the image which is contained in or which constitutes the master from which the individual print was made. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 11.01
  • 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.
  • Attorney-in-fact: A person who, acting as an agent, is given written authorization by another person to transact business for him (her) out of court.
  • auction: means a public sale of cattle, swine or horses to the highest bidder. See N.Y. Agriculture and Markets Law 90-B
  • auctioneer: means a person who sells, or makes a business of selling cattle, swine or horses, at auction. See N.Y. Agriculture and Markets Law 90-B
  • authorship: refers to the creator of a work of fine art or multiple or to the period, culture, source or origin, as the case may be, with which the creation of such work is identified in the description of the work. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 11.01
  • Autographed: means bearing the actual signature of a sports personality, signed by such individual's own hand. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 60.01
  • Bail: Security given for the release of a criminal defendant or witness from legal custody (usually in the form of money) to secure his/her appearance on the day and time appointed.
  • 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.
  • Baseline: Projection of the receipts, outlays, and other budget amounts that would ensue in the future without any change in existing policy. Baseline projections are used to gauge the extent to which proposed legislation, if enacted into law, would alter current spending and revenue levels.
  • 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
  • Bequest: Property gifted by will.
  • Board: shall mean the board of trustees of the New York state higher education services corporation. See N.Y. Education Law 651
  • board: means "board of directors". See N.Y. Banking Law 1001
  • Broker: shall include any individual or corporation engaging in the purchase, sale or exchange of securities for or on behalf of any customer. See N.Y. Abandoned Property Law 510
  • camelid: means the entire family of camelidae. See N.Y. Agriculture and Markets Law 90-B
  • cattle: means the entire family of bovidae. See N.Y. Agriculture and Markets Law 90-B
  • Certificate of authenticity: means a written statement by an art merchant confirming, approving or attesting to the authorship of a work of fine art or multiple, which is capable of being used to the advantage or disadvantage of some person. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 11.01
  • 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.
  • Charitable or nonprofit organization: means any organization which is exempt from federal or state income taxation, except that the term does not include organizations which sell or offer to sell such donated items of food. See N.Y. Agriculture and Markets Law 71-Y
  • Child witness: means a person fourteen years old or less who is or will be called to testify in a criminal proceeding, other than a grand jury proceeding, concerning an offense defined in Article one hundred thirty of the penal law or section 255. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 65.00
  • Collectible: means an autographed sports item including, but not limited to, a photograph, book, ticket, plaque, sports program, trading card, item of sports equipment or clothing, or other sports memorabilia sold or offered for sale in or from this state by a dealer to a consumer for twenty-five dollars or more. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 60.01
  • Commissioner: means the state commissioner of mental health or the state commissioner of the office for people with developmental disabilities. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 730.10
  • commissioner: means the commissioner of agriculture and markets of the state of New York. See N.Y. Agriculture and Markets Law 71-U
  • 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.
  • communication: includes conversation and discussion. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 700.05
  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • concert: shall mean any live performance whether musical or spoken, dramatic or nondramatic, by one or more performers, which is presented to the public in a place of entertainment, as defined in this subdivision. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 23.03
  • Conservation: means acts taken to correct deterioration and alteration and acts taken to prevent, stop or retard deterioration. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 11.01
  • Consumer: means any natural person who purchases an autographed sports collectible from a dealer for personal, family or household purposes. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 60.01
  • contents: when used with respect to a communication, includes any information concerning the identity of the parties to such communications, and the existence, substance, purport, or meaning of that communication. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 700.05
  • Continuance: Putting off of a hearing ot trial until a later time.
  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • Corporation: shall mean the New York state higher education services corporation. See N.Y. Education Law 651
  • 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.
  • Corporation: shall mean any corporation (other than a public corporation as defined in paragraph (b) of this subdivision), joint stock company, association of two or more individuals, committee, partnership, investment company (as defined by, and which is registered under, an act of Congress of the United States entitled the "Investment Company Act of 1940" as amended), unit investment trust or business trust, whether or not for profit. See N.Y. Abandoned Property Law 500
  • Corporation: shall include any joint stock company, corporation, association of two or more individuals, committee, public authority, or business trust. See N.Y. Abandoned Property Law 510
  • Corporation: means and includes all banks, trust companies, safe deposit companies, investment companies, mutual trust investment companies, and, to the extent not provided otherwise under any regulation of the superintendent of financial services promulgated pursuant to the provisions of section fourteen-e of this chapter, stock-form savings banks and stock-form savings and loan associations. See N.Y. Banking Law 1001
  • Counterfeit: means a work of fine art or multiple made, altered or copied, with or without intent to deceive, in such manner that it appears or is claimed to have an authorship which it does not in fact possess. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 11.01
  • Craft: means a functional or non-functional work individually designed, and crafted by hand, in any medium including but not limited to textile, tile, paper, clay, glass, fiber, wood, metal or plastic; provided, however, that if produced in multiples, craft shall not include works mass produced or produced in other than a limited edition. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 11.01
  • Creditors: means "creditor" as defined in paragraph thirteen of subsection (b) of section 1--201 of the uniform commercial code. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 11.01
  • Cross examine: Questioning of a witness by the attorney for the other side.
  • Customer: shall include any individual or corporation entering into a contract with a broker or dealer by which such broker or dealer agrees to effect the purchase, sale, or exchange, or to keep custody of any security for or on behalf of such individual or corporation. See N.Y. Abandoned Property Law 510
  • dairy product: means all milk and milk products defined by the definitions and standards of identity promulgated pursuant to section forty-six-a of this chapter and such other food products derived from milk as the commissioner shall designate by regulation. See N.Y. Agriculture and Markets Law 71-U
  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Dealer: shall include any individual or corporation engaging in any state as a regular business in the purchase, sale or exchange of securities for his or its own account, through a broker or otherwise. See N.Y. Abandoned Property Law 510
  • dealer: includes an auctioneer who sells such collectibles at public auction, and includes persons who are consignors or principals of auctioneers. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 60.01
  • Decedent: A deceased person.
  • Decharacterization: means the uniform application of sufficient quantities of dye, charcoal, malodorous fish oil, acid, or any other agent approved by the commissioner upon and into the freely slashed flesh of meat or meat product not being rendered so as to unequivocally preclude its use for human food. See N.Y. Agriculture and Markets Law 96-Y
  • Deed: The legal instrument used to transfer title in real property from one person to another.
  • deer: means any member of the family of cervidae. See N.Y. Agriculture and Markets Law 90-B
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Defendant: means a person who has been charged by an accusatory instrument with the commission of an offense. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 710.10
  • 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.
  • Description: means any representation in writing, including but not limited to a representation contained in an advertisement, invoice, catalog, flyer, sign, brochure, or other commercial or promotional material. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 60.01
  • Designated crime: means any crime included within the definition of a "designated offense" in subdivision eight of section 700. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 705.00
  • Designated offense: means any one or more of the following crimes:

    (a) A conspiracy to commit any offense enumerated in the following paragraphs of this subdivision, or an attempt to commit any felony enumerated in the following paragraphs of this subdivision which attempt would itself constitute a felony;

    * (b) Any of the following felonies: assault in the second degree as defined in § 120. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 700.05
  • Devise: To gift property by will.
  • Director: means (a) the director of a state hospital operated by the office of mental health or the director of a developmental center operated by the office for people with developmental disabilities, or (b) the director of a hospital operated by any local government of the state that has been certified by the commissioner as having adequate facilities to examine a defendant to determine if he is an incapacitated person, or (c) the director of community mental health services. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 730.10
  • Director: means any member of the governing board of a corporation, whether designated as director, trustee, manager, governor, or by any other title. See N.Y. Banking Law 1001
  • 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:
  • Disposal plant: means the premises or place where bodies, carcasses or portions thereof of dead, dying, diseased, disabled or condemned animals or inedible meat are received and held for the purpose of burning, processing or rendering or otherwise obtaining the hides, skins, grease or meat therefrom in any manner whatsoever. See N.Y. Agriculture and Markets Law 96-Y
  • Disposition: means the disposal of a record by destruction, sale, gift, transfer to the local government archives, or by other authorized means. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 57.17
  • Docket: A log containing brief entries of court proceedings.
  • Domestic corporation: shall mean any corporation organized under the laws of this state or under the laws of this state and one or more other states or foreign countries, but shall not mean a banking organization as defined in this chapter. See N.Y. Abandoned Property Law 500
  • Donor: The person who makes a gift.
  • ear tag: means a unique, tamper-resistant device which, when affixed to the ears of cattle, deer, swine or camelid, identifies and distinguishes such animals. See N.Y. Agriculture and Markets Law 90-B
  • Eavesdropping: means "wiretapping" "mechanical overhearing of conversation" or the "intercepting or accessing of an electronic communication" as those terms are defined in § 250. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 700.05
  • Eavesdropping: means "wiretapping" "mechanical overhearing of a conversation" or "intercepting or accessing of an electronic communication" as those terms are defined in § 250. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 710.10
  • Eavesdropping warrant: means an order of a justice authorizing or approving eavesdropping. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 700.05
  • Electronic appearance: means an appearance in which various participants, including the defendant, are not present in the court, but in which, by means of an independent audio-visual system, (a) all of the participants are simultaneously able to see and hear reproductions of the voices and images of the judge, counsel, defendant, police officer, and any other appropriate participant, and (b) counsel is present with the defendant, or if the defendant waives the presence of counsel on the record, the defendant and his or her counsel are able to see and hear each other and engage in private conversation. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 182.10
  • Electronic arraignment: means an arraignment in which various participants, including the defendant, are not personally present in the court but in which all of the participants are simultaneously able to see and hear reproductions of the voices and images of the judge, counsels, defendant, police officer and any other appropriate participant, by means of an independent audio-visual system. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 185.10
  • 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
  • Entertainment: means all forms of entertainment including, but not limited to, theatrical or operatic performances, concerts, motion pictures, all forms of entertainment at fair grounds, amusement parks and all types of athletic competitions including football, basketball, baseball, boxing, tennis, hockey, and any other sport, and all other forms of diversion, recreation or show. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 25.03
  • entire board: means the total number of directors which a corporation would have if there were no vacancies. See N.Y. Banking Law 7002
  • 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
  • Escheat: Reversion of real or personal property to the state when 1) a person dies without leaving a will and has no heirs, or 2) when the property (such as a bank account) has been inactive for a certain period of time. Source: OCC
  • Escrow: Money given to a third party to be held for payment until certain conditions are met.
  • Established price: means the price fixed at the time of sale by the operator of any place of entertainment for admission thereto, which must be printed or endorsed on each ticket of admission. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 25.03
  • event: shall mean a theatrical production or sporting event, as those terms are defined in this subdivision, or any other public exhibition, game, show, contest or performance which is presented to the public in a place of entertainment as defined in this subdivision. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 23.03
  • 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 mansion: shall mean the lands and structures constituting the executive residence of the governor at 138 Eagle Street in Albany, New York. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 54.03
  • Executor: A male person named in a will to carry out the decedent
  • Executrix: The female counterpart of an executor. See also
  • Exigent circumstances: means conditions requiring the preservation of secrecy, and whereby there is a reasonable likelihood that a continuing investigation would be thwarted by alerting any of the persons subject to surveillance to the fact that such surveillance had occurred. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 700.05
  • 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 products: means any agricultural, dairy or horticultural product or any product designed or intended for human consumption or prepared principally from an agricultural, dairy or horticultural product. See N.Y. Agriculture and Markets Law 71-Y
  • Fiduciary: A trustee, executor, or administrator.
  • Fiduciary: shall mean any individual or any domestic or foreign corporation holding a security for a resident or receiving, as agent of a corporation or as holder of a security, any amount due or to become due a resident as the holder or owner of a security but shall not mean any individual or corporation so acting by direction of a court in any case where such court has not directed a distribution of such amount or security. See N.Y. Abandoned Property Law 500
  • Final auction price: shall mean the price paid for a single ticket by a winning bidder. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 25.03
  • Fine art: means a painting, sculpture, drawing, or work of graphic art, and print, but not multiples. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 11.01
  • 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.
  • Forbearance: A means of handling a delinquent loan. A
  • 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
  • Foreign corporation: shall mean any corporation organized under the laws of a state other than New York or under the laws of a foreign country and doing business in this state or authorized to do business in this state, but shall not mean a banking organization as defined in this chapter. See N.Y. Abandoned Property Law 500
  • Foreign corporation: means a corporation which is licensed by the superintendent under the provisions of article two of this chapter to do business in this state or is applying for such license and a corporation authorized to conduct business in this state pursuant to article five-C of this chapter or is applying for such authorization. See N.Y. Banking Law 1001
  • foreign dairy product: means any dairy product produced, processed or manufactured outside the United States. See N.Y. Agriculture and Markets Law 71-U
  • Forgery: The fraudulent signing or alteration of another's name to an instrument such as a deed, mortgage, or check. The intent of the forgery is to deceive or defraud. Source: OCC
  • Fraud: Intentional deception resulting in injury to another.
  • Game or wild game: means any deer or big game, or portions thereof, as defined in section 11-0103 of the environmental conservation law, taken by lawful hunting. See N.Y. Agriculture and Markets Law 71-Y
  • Gift: A voluntary transfer or conveyance of property without consideration, or for less than full and adequate consideration based on fair market value.
  • Governing body: means the town board, village board of trustees, city council, county legislature or board of supervisors, board of education or board of trustees of a school district or board of cooperative educational services, board of fire commissioners or other body authorized by law to govern the affairs of a local government. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 57.17
  • Grace period: The number of days you'll have to pay your bill for purchases in full without triggering a finance charge. Source: Federal Reserve
  • Grand jury: agreement providing that a lender will delay exercising its rights (in the case of a mortgage,
  • Grantor: The person who establishes a trust and places property into it.
  • 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.
  • Hearsay: Statements by a witness who did not see or hear the incident in question but heard about it from someone else. Hearsay is usually not admissible as evidence in court.
  • horse: means the entire family of equidae. See N.Y. Agriculture and Markets Law 90-B
  • Hudson river valley: means the Hudson river and adjacent areas between the Adirondack Mountains and the tip of Manhattan Island in the city of New York. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 10.03
  • Illicit alcoholic beverage: means and includes any alcohol or distilled spirits owned, manufactured, distributed, bought, sold, bottled, rectified, blended, treated, fortified, mixed, processed, warehoused, possessed or transported on which any tax required to have been paid under any applicable federal law has not been paid. See N.Y. Alcoholic Beverage Control Law 150
  • Impeachment: (1) The process of calling something into question, as in "impeaching the testimony of a witness." (2) The constitutional process whereby the House of Representatives may "impeach" (accuse of misconduct) high officers of the federal government for trial in the Senate.
  • Incapacitated person: means a defendant who as a result of mental disease or defect lacks capacity to understand the proceedings against him or to assist in his own defense. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 730.10
  • 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
  • Independent audio-visual system: means an electronic system for the transmission and receiving of audio and visual signals, encompassing encoded signals, frequency domain multiplexing or other suitable means to preclude the unauthorized reception and decoding of the signals by commercially available television receivers, channel converters, or other available receiving devices. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 182.10
  • Independent audio-visual system: shall mean an electronic system for the transmission and receiving of audio and visual signals, encompassing encoded signals, frequency domain multiplexing or other suitable means to preclude the unauthorized reception and decoding of the signals by commercially available television receivers, channel converters, or other available receiving devices. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 185.10
  • 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.
  • Inedible meat: means meat and meat products derived from dead, dying, disabled, diseased or condemned animals, and meat or meat products, regardless of origin, which are adulterated within the meaning of section two hundred of this chapter. See N.Y. Agriculture and Markets Law 96-Y
  • Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury.
  • Institute: means the Institute for the Hudson River Collection created by this article. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 10.03
  • Intangible property: Property that has no intrinsic value, but is merely the evidence of value such as stock certificates, bonds, and promissory notes.
  • Intercepted communication: means (a) a telephonic or telegraphic communication which was intentionally overheard or recorded by a person other than the sender or receiver thereof, without the consent of the sender or receiver, by means of any instrument, device or equipment, or (b) a conversation or discussion which was intentionally overheard or recorded, without the consent of at least one party thereto, by a person not present thereat, by means of any instrument, device or equipment; or (c) an electronic communication which was intentionally intercepted or accessed, as that term is defined in § 250. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 700.05
  • Intestate: Dying without leaving a will.
  • Irrevocable trust: A trust arrangement that cannot be revoked, rescinded, or repealed by the grantor.
  • Judgement: The official decision of a court finally determining the respective rights and claims of the parties to a suit.
  • 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.
  • Juror: A person who is on the jury.
  • Justice: except as otherwise provided herein, means any justice of an appellate division of the judicial department in which the eavesdropping warrant is to be executed, or any justice of the supreme court of the judicial district in which the eavesdropping warrant is to be executed, or any county court judge of the county in which the eavesdropping warrant is to be executed. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 700.05
  • Justice: means justice as defined in subdivision four of section 700. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 705.00
  • Law enforcement agency: means any agency which is empowered by law to conduct an investigation or to make an arrest for a felony, and any agency which is authorized by law to prosecute or participate in the prosecution of a felony. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 705.00
  • Law enforcement officer: means any public servant who is empowered by law to conduct an investigation of or to make an arrest for a designated offense, and any attorney authorized by law to prosecute or participate in the prosecution of a designated offense. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 700.05
  • 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
  • Legacy: A gift of property made by will.
  • 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.
  • Limited edition: means works of art produced from a master, all of which are the same image and bear numbers or other markings to denote the limited production thereof to a stated maximum number of multiples, or are otherwise held out as limited to a maximum number of multiples. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 11.01
  • Litigation: A case, controversy, or lawsuit. Participants (plaintiffs and defendants) in lawsuits are called litigants.
  • live poultry market: means any premises where poultry are assembled and held for sale and slaughter. See N.Y. Agriculture and Markets Law 90-B
  • Local government: means any county, city, town, village, school district, board of cooperative educational services, district corporation, public benefit corporation, public corporation, or other government created under state law that is not a state department, division, board, bureau, commission or other agency, heretofore or hereafter established by law. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 57.17
  • Local officer: shall mean and include a local officer as defined in § 2 of the public officers law and any officer of a public benefit corporation. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 57.17
  • Majority leader: see Floor Leaders
  • Master: when used alone is used in lieu of and means the same as such things as printing plate, stone, block, screen, photographic negative or other like material which contains an image used to produce visual art objects in multiples, or in the case of sculptures, a mold, model, cast, form or other prototype, other than from glass, which additional multiples of sculpture are produced, fabricated or carved. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 11.01
  • Meat: means the entire bodies, carcasses or portions thereof of animals or birds. See N.Y. Agriculture and Markets Law 96-Y
  • Minority leader: See Floor Leaders
  • Mistrial: An invalid trial, caused by fundamental error. When a mistrial is declared, the trial must start again from the selection of the jury.
  • 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.
  • multiples: means prints, photographs, positive or negative, sculpture and similar art objects produced in more than one copy and sold, offered for sale or consigned in, into or from this state for an amount in excess of one hundred dollars exclusive of any frame or in the case of sculpture, an amount in excess of fifteen hundred dollars. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 11.01
  • 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.
  • Not-for-profit organization: means a domestic corporation incorporated pursuant to or otherwise subject to the not-for-profit corporation law, a charitable organization registered with the department of law, a religious corporation as defined in § 66 of the general construction law, a trustee as defined in section 8-1. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 25.03
  • 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.
  • Office: means in the case of a bank or trust company its principal office, in the case of a safe deposit company, investment company or mutual trust investment company, its principal place of business and in the case of a foreign corporation the place of business designated in its license or its authorization pursuant to article five-C of this chapter, as the case may be, for the oldest agency or branch in this state of such foreign corporation. See N.Y. Banking Law 1001
  • official backtag: means a unique device which, when affixed to cattle, deer, swine or camelid, identifies and distinguishes such animals. See N.Y. Agriculture and Markets Law 90-B
  • On consignment: means that no title to, estate in, or right to possession of, the work of fine art or multiple that is superior to that of the consignor vests in the consignee, notwithstanding the consignee's power or authority to transfer or convey all the right, title and interest of the consignor, in and to such work, to a third person. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 11.01
  • Operator: means the individual authorized by the court to operate the closed-circuit television equipment used in accordance with the provisions of this article. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 65.00
  • Operator: means any person who owns, operates, or controls a place of entertainment or who promotes or produces an entertainment. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 25.03
  • Oral argument: An opportunity for lawyers to summarize their position before the court and also to answer the judges' questions.
  • Organization certificate: includes (a) the original organization certificate or any other instrument filed or issued under any statute to form a corporation or foreign corporation, as amended, supplemented or restated by certificates of amendment, merger or consolidation or other certificates or instruments filed or issued under any statute; or (b) a special act or charter creating a corporation or foreign corporation, as amended, supplemented or restated by special acts or by certificates of amendment, merger or consolidation or other certificates or instruments filed or issued under any statute. See N.Y. Banking Law 1001
  • Outlays: Outlays are payments made (generally through the issuance of checks or disbursement of cash) to liquidate obligations. Outlays during a fiscal year may be for payment of obligations incurred in prior years or in the same year.
  • Oversight: Committee review of the activities of a Federal agency or program.
  • packaged foreign dairy product: means a foreign dairy product which is enclosed in a container or wrapper (including a shipping container or wrapping used for the transportation of such product in bulk or quantity to manufacturers, packers, processors, or to wholesale or retail distributors) or which although not so enclosed has written, printed, or graphic matter pertaining to such foreign dairy product affixed or attached. See N.Y. Agriculture and Markets Law 71-U
  • 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.
  • Pen register: means a device which records or decodes electronic or other impulses which identify the numbers dialed or otherwise transmitted on the telephone line to which such device is attached, but such term does not include any device used by a provider or customer of a wire or electronic communication service for billing, or recording as an incident to billing, for communications services provided by such provider or any device used by a provider or customer of a wire communication service for cost accounting or other like purposes in the ordinary course of its business. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 705.00
  • Performing group: means any vocal or instrumental group seeking to use, using, advertising the use of, or promoting the name of a recording group that has previously released a commercial sound recording under the name of such recording group. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 34.03
  • Person: means an individual, partnership, corporation, association or other group, however organized. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 11.01
  • person: shall mean an individual, firm, company, partnership, corporation, trust or association. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 23.03
  • Person: means any natural person, partnership, corporation, company, trust, association or other entity, however organized. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 60.01
  • Personal property: All property that is not real property.
  • Petty offense: A federal misdemeanor punishable by six months or less in prison. Source: U.S. Courts
  • Physical structure: means the place of entertainment, or in the case where a structure either partially or wholly surrounds the place of entertainment, such surrounding structure. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 25.03
  • place of entertainment: shall mean a theatre, dinner theatre, hall, coliseum, convention center, arena, auditorium, stadium, concert hall, garden, outdoor space or other place of amusement operated as a for profit entity and located in this state in which theatrical productions, sporting events or other events are presented. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 23.03
  • Place of entertainment: means any privately or publicly owned and operated entertainment facility such as a theatre, stadium, arena, racetrack, museum, amusement park, or other place where performances, concerts, exhibits, athletic games or contests are held for which an entry fee is charged. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 25.03
  • 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.
  • Potential testimony: means information or factual knowledge of a person who is or may be available as a witness. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 710.10
  • poultry: means a domesticated fowl including chickens, turkeys, waterfowl, guinea fowl and game birds commonly used for the production of meat and eggs. See N.Y. Agriculture and Markets Law 90-B
  • poultry dealer: means any person who buys or sells poultry as a business enterprise. See N.Y. Agriculture and Markets Law 90-B
  • poultry transporter: means any person who transports poultry as a business enterprise. See N.Y. Agriculture and Markets Law 90-B
  • Pre-trial motion: as used in this article means any motion by a defendant which seeks an order of the court:

    (a) dismissing or reducing an indictment pursuant to article 210 or removing an action to the family court pursuant to article 722; or

    (b) dismissing an information, prosecutor's information, simplified information or misdemeanor complaint pursuant to article 170; or

    (c) granting discovery pursuant to article 245; or

    (d) granting a bill of particulars pursuant to sections 100. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 255.10
  • Precedent: A court decision in an earlier case with facts and law similar to a dispute currently before a court. Precedent will ordinarily govern the decision of a later similar case, unless a party can show that it was wrongly decided or that it differed in some significant way.
  • Preliminary hearing: A hearing where the judge decides whether there is enough evidence to make the defendant have a trial.
  • Presentence report: A report prepared by a court's probation officer, after a person has been convicted of an offense, summarizing for the court the background information needed to determine the appropriate sentence. Source: U.S. Courts
  • President: shall mean the president of the corporation. See N.Y. Education Law 651
  • principal: shall mean and include every person or firm directly or indirectly controlling the business affairs or operations of a theatrical production company or of a ticket distributor, as defined herein. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 23.03
  • Pro se: A Latin term meaning "on one's own behalf"; in courts, it refers to persons who present their own cases without lawyers.
  • Probable cause: A reasonable ground for belief that the offender violated a specific law.
  • Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
  • Processing: means any method whereby meat or meat products derived from animals are cut, boned, mixed, blended, canned, cured or otherwise prepared for purposes other than for human consumption. See N.Y. Agriculture and Markets Law 96-Y
  • Proofs: means multiples which are the same as, and which are produced from the same masters as, the multiples in a limited edition, but which, whether so designated or not, are set aside from and are in addition to the limited edition to which they relate. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 11.01
  • Property: includes , but is not limited to, money, rights to claim refunds or rebates, postal savings deposits, bonds, notes, certificates, policies of insurance, other instruments of value, choses in action, obligations whether written or unwritten, and any thing of value of any nature whatsoever. See N.Y. Abandoned Property Law 1214
  • Prosecute: To charge someone with a crime. A prosecutor tries a criminal case on behalf of the government.
  • Public corporation: shall mean any state and a public corporation as defined in § 66 of the general construction law, but shall not mean an agency or political subdivision of the United States or of a foreign nation. See N.Y. Abandoned Property Law 500
  • Public issuer: shall include the United States, the several states and territories thereof, political subdivisions and municipal corporations within such states and territories, foreign countries and political subdivisions and municipal corporations within such foreign countries. See N.Y. Abandoned Property Law 510
  • 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.
  • Record: means any book, paper, map, photograph, or other information-recording device, regardless of physical form or characteristic, that is made, produced, executed, or received by any local government or officer thereof pursuant to law or in connection with the transaction of public business. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 57.17
  • Recording group: means any vocal or instrumental group at least one of whose members has previously released a commercial sound recording under that group's name and in which such member or members have a legal right by virtue of use or operation under the group name without having abandoned the name or affiliation with the group. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 34.03
  • Records retention and disposition schedule: means a list or other instrument describing records and their retention periods which is issued by the commissioner of education. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 57.17
  • 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
  • registration number: means the number assigned to and that identifies a particular domestic animal, which number and the identifying characteristics of such domestic animal are set forth in a registry maintained by a breed association recognized by the department. See N.Y. Agriculture and Markets Law 90-B
  • 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.
  • Reproduction: means a copy, in any medium, of a work of fine art, that is displayed or published under circumstances that, reasonably construed, evinces an intent that it be taken as a representation of a work of fine art as created by the artist. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 11.01
  • Reproduction right: means a right to reproduce, prepare derivative works of, distribute copies of, publicly perform or publicly display a work of fine art. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 11.01
  • Resale: means any sale of a ticket for entrance to a place of entertainment located within the boundaries of the state of New York other than a sale by the operator or the operator's agent who is expressly authorized to make first sales of such tickets. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 25.03
  • 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.
  • Resident: shall mean :

    (a) An individual domiciled in this state;

    (b) A domestic corporation;

    (c) A banking organization, as defined in section one hundred three of this chapter; and

    (d) This state and any public corporation organized under its laws. See N.Y. Abandoned Property Law 500
  • Restitution: The court-ordered payment of money by the defendant to the victim for damages caused by the criminal action.
  • Retention period: means the minimum length of time that must elapse before a record is eligible for disposition. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 57.17
  • Sculpture: means a three-dimensional fine art object produced, fabricated or carved in multiple from a mold, model, cast, form or other prototype, other than from glass, sold, offered for sale or consigned in, into or from this state for an amount in excess of fifteen hundred dollars. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 11.01
  • Security: shall mean :

    (a) Any instrument issued by a corporation or public corporation or any entry on the books and records of such corporation or public corporation evidencing an obligation to make any payment of the principal amount of a debt or of any increment due or to become due thereon; or

    (b) Any instrument issued by a corporation to evidence a proprietary interest therein or any intangible interest in a corporation as evidenced by the books and records of the corporation except:

    (i) A policy of insurance issued by a mutual insurance corporation, or

    (ii) A share issued by a savings and loan association, a building and loan association, or a credit union. See N.Y. Abandoned Property Law 500
  • Security: shall include :

    (a) Any instrument issued by a corporation or public issuer to evidence an obligation to make any payment of the principal amount of a debt or of any increment due or to become due thereon, or

    (b) Any instrument issued by a corporation to evidence a proprietary interest therein except:

    (i) A policy of insurance issued by a mutual insurance corporation, or

    (ii) A share issued by a savings and loan association, a building and loan association, or a credit union. See N.Y. Abandoned Property Law 510
  • 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.
  • sheep: means any member of the genus ovis. See N.Y. Agriculture and Markets Law 90-B
  • Signed: means autographed by the artist's own hand, and not by mechanical means of reproduction, after the multiple was produced, whether or not the master was signed or unsigned. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 11.01
  • Sound recording: means any work that results from the fixation on a material object of a series of musical, spoken or other sounds regardless of the nature of the material object, including, but not limited to, a disk, tape, computerized file or other phono-record, in which the sounds are embodied. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 34.03
  • State agency: means any state board, body, bureau, commission, council, department, public authority, public corporation, division, office or other governmental entity performing a governmental or proprietary function for the state. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 10.03
  • 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.
  • Subpoena duces tecum: A command to a witness to produce documents.
  • Successor in interest: shall mean a "personal representative" "testamentary beneficiary" trustee or beneficiary of a "lifetime trust" or an "heir" (including heirs who acquire the work of fine art, craft or print from the artist or craftsperson or from another heir or beneficiary of the artist or craftsperson), which terms shall have the same meanings as set forth in the estates, powers and trusts law. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 11.01
  • Summons: Another word for subpoena used by the criminal justice system.
  • Supplier: means any person who provides collectibles to a dealer specifically for the purposes of re-sale. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 60.01
  • swine: means the entire super family of suidoidae, both feral and domestic. See N.Y. Agriculture and Markets Law 90-B
  • Syndication: shall mean all forms, methods and devices for pooling of investment funds for the chief purpose of participating in a theatrical production company, as defined herein. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 23.03
  • Testator: A male person who leaves a will at death.
  • Testify: Answer questions in court.
  • Testimonial room: means any room, separate and apart from the courtroom, which is furnished comfortably and less formally than a courtroom and from which the testimony of a vulnerable child witness can be transmitted to the courtroom by means of live, two-way closed-circuit television. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 65.00
  • Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
  • theatrical production: shall mean those live-staged dramatic productions, dramatic-musical productions and concerts, as defined in this subdivision, which hereafter are shown to the public for profit and which are financed wholly or in part by the offering or sale in or from this state, directly, or through agents or distributors, of investment agreements, evidences of interest, limited partnerships, producer shares, equity or debt securities, pre-organization subscriptions or any other syndication participation, when any persons are offered, solicited to purchase or sell, directly or indirectly, such syndication interests for moneys or services within or from the state of New York; provided, however, that for purposes of paragraphs (h) and (i) of this subdivision a "theatrical production" shall mean any live-staged dramatic production, dramatic-musical production or concert which is presented to the public in a place of entertainment as defined in this subdivision. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 23.03
  • theatrical production company: shall mean any entity formed to (i) develop, produce, invest in or otherwise exploit, or any combination thereof, one or more specified or nonspecified theatrical productions, and (ii) conduct all activities related thereto. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 23.03
  • Ticket: means any evidence of the right of entry to any place of entertainment. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 25.03
  • Ticket office: means a building or other structure located other than at the place of entertainment, at which the operator or the operator's agent offers tickets for first sale to the public. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 25.03
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Transportation service: means the operation within the state of a vehicle or vehicles by a person not otherwise licensed to operate a disposal plant, for the purpose of transporting for hire unprocessed animal bodies, carcasses or portions thereof, and meat or meat products which are not intended for eventual use for human consumption. See N.Y. Agriculture and Markets Law 96-Y
  • Trap and trace device: means a device which captures the incoming electronic or other impulses which identify the originating number of an instrument or device from which a wire or electronic communication was transmitted. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 705.00
  • Treasury shares: means shares which have been issued, have been subsequently acquired, and are retained uncancelled by the corporation. See N.Y. Banking Law 1001
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
  • Trial jury: A group of citizens who hear the evidence presented by both sides at trial and determine the facts in dispute. Federal criminal juries consist of 12 persons. Federal civil juries consist of six persons.
  • Trust: shall mean the trust created by section 54. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 54.03
  • 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: means any officer, agency, department or instrumentality of the United States of America, other than a court, and any corporation organized under its laws. See N.Y. Abandoned Property Law 1214
  • Usury: Charging an illegally high interest rate on a loan. Source: OCC
  • Vehicle: means a conveyance or any piece of equipment whatsoever used in transportation service. See N.Y. Agriculture and Markets Law 96-Y
  • Venue: The geographical location in which a case is tried.
  • Verdict: The decision of a petit jury or a judge.
  • Veto: The procedure established under the Constitution by which the President/Governor refuses to approve a bill or joint resolution and thus prevents its enactment into law. A regular veto occurs when the President/Governor returns the legislation to the house in which it originated. The President/Governor usually returns a vetoed bill with a message indicating his reasons for rejecting the measure. In Congress, the veto can be overridden only by a two-thirds vote in both the Senate and the House.
  • Victim Impact Statement: A written or spoken statement by the victim or his or her representative about the physical, emotional, and financial impact of a crime on the victim. The statement is given to the court before sentencing.
  • Video surveillance: means the intentional visual observation by law enforcement of a person by means of a television camera or other electronic device that is part of a television transmitting apparatus, whether or not such observation is recorded on film or video tape, without the consent of that person or another person thereat and under circumstances in which such observation in the absence of a video surveillance warrant infringes upon such person's reasonable expectation of privacy under the constitution of this state or of the United States. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 700.05
  • Video surveillance: has the meaning given to that term by section 700. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 710.10
  • Video surveillance warrant: means an order of a justice authorizing or approving video surveillance. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 700.05
  • Vulnerable child witness: means a child witness whom a court has declared to be vulnerable. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 65.00
  • Wages: shall include moneys payable, under contract or otherwise, for services rendered to a domestic or foreign corporation or fiduciary, including but not limited to payment of salaries, commissions, royalties, expenses, employee benefits, and insurance benefits payable by a corporation pursuant to a self-insurance plan, less lawful deductions. See N.Y. Abandoned Property Law 500
  • Wages: shall include moneys payable, under contract or otherwise, for services rendered to a broker or dealer, less lawful deductions. See N.Y. Abandoned Property Law 510
  • Written instrument: means a written or printed agreement, bill of sale, invoice, certificate of authenticity, catalogue or any other written or printed note or memorandum or label describing the work of fine art or multiple which is to be sold, exchanged or consigned by an art merchant. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 11.01