Terms Used In Oregon Statutes > Chapter 455 > Municipal Review and Inspection

• Allegation: something that someone says happened.
• 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.
• Appropriate advisory board: means the advisory board that has jurisdiction over a particular code, standard, license, certification or matter. See Oregon Statutes 455.010
• City: includes any incorporated village or town. See Oregon Statutes 174.100
• 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.
• 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.
• Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
• Department: means the Department of Consumer and Business Services. See Oregon Statutes 455.010
• Director: means the Director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services. See Oregon Statutes 455.010
• District: means a metropolitan service district established under this chapter. See Oregon Statutes 268.020
• District charter: means a home rule charter enacted by the electors of a district under section 14, Article XI, Oregon Constitution. See Oregon Statutes 268.020
• 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}
• 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.
• 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}
• Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury.
• 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.
• 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}
• local government: means all cities, counties and local service districts located in this state, and all administrative subdivisions of those cities, counties and local service districts. See Oregon Statutes 174.116
• Metropolitan area: means that area which on October 4, 1997, lies within the boundaries of Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington Counties. See Oregon Statutes 268.020
• Metropolitan significance: means having major or significant district-wide impact. See Oregon Statutes 268.020
• Municipality: means a city, county or other unit of local government otherwise authorized by law to administer a building code. See Oregon Statutes 455.010
• Oversight: Committee review of the activities of a Federal agency or program.
• 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 public body as defined in ORS § 174. See Oregon Statutes 268.020
• Person: includes individuals, corporations, associations, firms, partnerships, limited liability companies and joint stock companies. See Oregon Statutes 174.100
• person with a disability: means any person who:

  (a) Has a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities;

  (b) Has a record of such an impairment; or

  (c) Is regarded as having such an impairment. See Oregon Statutes 174.107

• 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.
• public body: means state government bodies, local government bodies and special government bodies. See Oregon Statutes 174.109
• Regional framework plan: means the Metro regional framework plan defined in ORS § 197. See Oregon Statutes 268.020
• State building code: means the combined specialty codes. See Oregon Statutes 455.010
• Subpoena: A command to a witness to appear and give testimony.
• Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
• Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
• Writ: A formal written command, issued from the court, requiring the performance of a specific act.