A stay of proceedings is 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...
civil procedure
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...
subject matter jurisdiction
Subject matter jurisdiction is the power of a court to adjudicate a particular type of matter and provide the remedy demanded.
Personal Jurisdiction and Subject Matter JurisdictionA court must have jurisdiction to enter a...
subpena (subpoena)
A subpoena is a court order that requires a person to appear before a court, and testify, or produce specified evidence. A person who receives a subpoena but fails to comply with it may be charged with contempt of court and be subjected to...
subpoena
A subpoena is a legal, written order to compel an individual to give testimony on a particular subject at a specific time and place, or to provide documents or other tangible objects. Subpoenas can compel an individual to testify for a...
subpoena duces tecum
From the Latin duces tecum, meaning "you shall bring with you; subpoena duces tecum is a type of subpoena that requires the witness to produce documents, books, records, or other evidence pertinent to a legal proceeding. This subpoena will...
substantial evidence
Standard of review used at the appellate level to review a trial court's decision, where the court asks whether there exists substantial evidence to support the findings of the court below.
substantial factor test
The substantial factor test is often used in criminal law and torts to assess whether the defendant’s acts or omissions were a substantial factor in causing the harm, especially when there are multiple causes.
In criminal...
substantive law
Law which governs the original rights and obligations of individuals. Substantive law may derive from the common law, statutes, or a constitution. For example, a claim to recover for breach of contract or negligence or fraud would be a common...