Actual cause is a necessary element for both liability in civil cases and a guilty verdict under much of criminal law. In both civil and criminal cases, actual cause is determined by the but-for cause test; however, some jurisdictions also...
wex definitions
actual controversy
Actual controversy is a constitutional requirement for courts to issue a declaratory judgment. The requirement stems from the Declaratory Judgment Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2201, which allows federal courts to issue declaratory judgments in the case...
actual damages
In tort law, actual damages, also known as compensatory damages, are damages awarded by a court equivalent to the loss a party suffered. If a party’s right was technically violated but they suffered no harm or losses, a court may instead...
actual innocence
Actual innocence refers to a failure of proof defense arguing that the prosecution failed to prove all relevant elements of a charged crime beyond a reasonable doubt.
Unlike affirmative defenses, which all argue the...
actual notice
Actual notice is a notice that is given directly to a party or is personally received by a party informing them of a case that could affect their interests. In case of an actual notice, the notice is served in person as opposed to...
actuarial tables
Actuarial tables (also called life expectancy tables, mortality tables,and life tables) are statistical tools used by companies, scientists, courts, and government agencies to predict the life expectancy of a person by their age, gender, and...
actus reus
Actus reus refers to the act or omission that comprise the physical elements of a crime as required by statute. Actus reus includes only a voluntary affirmative act, or an omission (failure to act), causing a criminally proscribed result.
...ad hoc
This phrases mean “for this purpose only.” Its literal translation from the Latin is “to this.”
Common examples are an ad hoc committee or an ad hoc commission created for a specific or one-time purpose to address issues that fall outside...
ad litem
The Latin translation of ad litem is "for the suit."
Examples:
A guardian ad litem is a guardian (usually a lawyer) appointed by the court to manage the affairs of the ward as they relate to a proceeding or particular...ad seriatim
Ad seriatim is a Latin word meaning one after another or in a series.
For example, a judge delivering an opinion one by one or a court dealing with multiple issues in a certain order.
[Last updated in June of 2022...