General Legal Terms

Injunction

An order issued by a judge whereby a certain party is ordered to do or not do something.

Subpoena

A document issued in legal proceedings requiring a person to present evidence or provide documents to the Court at a given time and place.

Adjourn

To postpone a case before the Court to a separate date or time.

Battery

Physical harm inflicted on a person.

Assault

Threat to cause physical harm.

False Imprisonment

The intentional and unlawful confinement of a person against their will without any legal justification.

Defamation

The intentional or reckless communication of a false statement to a third party which results in harm to a person’s reputation.

Libel

Written or permanent defamation

Slander

Verbal or temporary defamation

Invasion of Privacy

A category of intentional torts that protects a person’s right to be left alone.

Trespass to Land

Unauthorised entry into another person’s legally recognised land or property.

Actionable per se

Conducts or statements which are recognised as inherently harmful and requiring no further evidence for the law to presume injury.

Affidavit

A written statement of facts presented by person of their own volition who signs and swears the information provided is true before an authorised legal witness.

Negligence

The failure to exercise the level of care reasonably expected in the situation, resulting in accidental harm or injury to another person.

Cause of action

The specific set of facts and legal grounds which grants a person the right to sue another party in court.