Law
9 This glossary is about the vocabulary of law and fields related to it. terms
- complaint
- noun
- A formal statement that someone has harmed somebody else or done something illegal, which must be proved in a court of law.
- Example: On the other hand, individuals lodged a COMPLAINT against the French state for the displacement of 1641 children from Reunion Island between 1963 and 1982.
- fr: plainte

- damages
- noun
- Money that is paid to someone by a person or organization who has been responsible for causing them some injury or loss.
- Example: The politician was awarded £50,000 in DAMAGES over false allegations made by the newspaper
- fr: indemnité
- federal court
- noun
- Federal courts are courts of limited jurisdiction, meaning they can only hear cases authorized by the United States Constitution or federal statutes.
- Example: In cases such as the present a FEDERAL COURT must apply the law of the State in which it sits.
- fr: tribunal fédéral

- injuction
- noun
- A judicial order restraining a person from beginning or continuing an action threatening or invading the legal right of another, or compelling a person to carry out a certain act, e.g. to make restitution to an injured party.
- Example: The court has issued an INJUNCTION to prevent the airline from increasing its prices.
- fr: injonction

- jury
- noun
- A group of people who have been chosen to listen to all the facts in a trial in a law court and to decide if a person is guilty or not guilty, or if a claim has been proved.
- Example: It is notoriously difficult to gauge the weight given to evidence by the JURY.
- fr: jurés

- law office/firm
- noun
- A business that employs lawyers to represent clients or argue in court.
- Example: The law firm hired a prominent Justice Department prosecutor as a partner in an effort to build a Washington practice.
- fr: cabinet d'avocats

- plaintiff
- noun
- A person who brings a case against another in a court of law.
- Example: The PLAINTIFF claimed damages for the financial losses suffered through breach of copyright
- fr: plaignant ; partie civile ; demandeur

- right to withdrawal
- noun
- The right of withdrawal allows the consumer to change his mind about the purchase made, freeing himself from the contract concluded without giving any reason. In this case, the consumer can return the goods and obtain a refund of the amount paid.
- Example: The exercise of the RIGHT TO WITHDRAWAL shall release the parties from their respective obligations.
- fr: droit de rétractation
- to sue
- verb
- To take legal action against a person or organization, especially by making a legal claim for money because of some harm that they have caused you.
- Example: Where, however, a duty of care can be established between a person who has manufactured or supplied a product and the person injured then this injured party may be able TO SUE in tort for the negligence of the manufacturer or supplier.
- fr: attaquer en justice