Statutory interpretation is the process where courts interpret and apply legislation; also known as statutory construction. Although sometimes the words of a statute may have a plain meaning; in many cases there may be some level of ambiguity...
courts and procedure
statutory offer of settlement
Statutory offer of settlement is a monetary offer extended to a plaintiff by a defendant to settle all disputes before trial. Usually the plaintiff has a short period of time depending on the state and case to accept the offer. If the...
stay
Stay is an action taken by a court to stop a legal proceeding or the actions of a party. A stay most commonly is issued by a court as a stay of proceedings in order to stop litigation from continuing, and they normally are only temporary. A...
stay of execution
Stay of execution is directed by a court to stop some form of enforcement action. A stay of execution can apply in many circumstances like stopping the sale of property in bankruptcy or the execution of a death penalty. When a stay of...
stay of proceedings
A ruling by a court to stop or suspend a proceeding or trial temporarily or indefinitely. A court may later lift the stay and continue the proceeding. Some stays are automatic, but others are up to judicial discretion. Usually, the pendency of an...
stipulation
Stipulation generally means an agreement, a bargain, proviso, or condition. If the stipulation complies with an applicable statute or rule of court, it will be binding. A stipulation could mean a fact, promise, or provision in a contract...
stockholder's derivative action
A stockholder's derivative action, also referred to as a shareholder derivative suit, is a lawsuit brought by a shareholder or group of shareholders on behalf of the corporation against the corporation’s directors, officers, or other third...
submit
Submit means to commit to the discretion or judgment of another, or to present for determination. The most common uses of the term “submit” in a legal sense include:
To “submit” evidence means to present or introduce it. In the...subornation of perjury
At common law, this was a separate offense from perjury. It consisted of procuring or somehow inducing another person to commit perjury.
subpena duces tecum
Subpoena duces tecum means “a subpoena for the production of evidence” which requires the witness to produce documents, records, or other tangible objects for examination at a trial or hearing. Duces tecum in Latin means, “you shall bring...