Terms Used In North Dakota Code > Chapter 32-46.2 - Asbestos Civil Actions

• Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
• Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
• Discovery: Lawyers' examination, before trial, of facts and documents in possession of the opponents to help the lawyers prepare for trial.
• 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.
• following: when used by way of reference to a chapter or other part of a statute means the next preceding or next following chapter or other part. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
• Individual: means a human being. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
• Person: means an individual, organization, government, political subdivision, or government agency or instrumentality. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
• Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
• population: means the number of inhabitants as determined by the last preceding state or federal census. See North Dakota Code 1-01-47
• Process: means a writ or summons issued in the course of judicial proceedings. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
• State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
• Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
• year: means twelve consecutive months. See North Dakota Code 1-01-33