injunction
/ˌɪnˈdʒʌŋkʃən/A court order that stops someone from doing a particular action.
Example: The court granted an injunction to stop the demolition.
B216 words · Upper-intermediate
Legal English vocabulary — B2
Legal English vocabulary for disputes and procedure, including an injunction, a subpoena, a deposition and the negligence or breach that leads to a settlement.
16 questions
Words in this set
16subpoena
/səˈpinə/A legal document ordering someone to appear in court or provide evidence.
Example:
He received a subpoena to testify next week.
deposition
/ˌdɛpəˈzɪʃən/A witness's sworn statement taken outside court, usually recorded for later use as evidence.
Example:
Lawyers questioned her during a three-hour deposition.
negligence
/ˈnɛɡlədʒəns/Failure to take reasonable care, causing harm or damage to someone else.
Example:
The court found the company guilty of negligence.
misdemeanour
A criminal offence that is less serious than a felony.
Example:
Shoplifting a small item was treated as a misdemeanour.
tort
/tɔrt/A wrongful act, other than a crime, that causes harm and can lead to a civil lawsuit.
Example:
Her lawyer argued the case as a tort, not a crime.
misconduct
/mɪˈskɑndəkt/Behaviour by a professional that breaks accepted rules or standards.
Example:
The doctor was suspended for professional misconduct.
breach
/britʃ/The act of breaking a law, rule or agreement.
Example:
The court ruled it was a clear breach of contract.
liable
/ˈlaɪəbəl/Legally responsible for a loss, debt or harm caused to someone else.
Example:
The driver was found liable for the damage to the fence.
settlement
/ˈsɛtəlmənt/An agreement that ends a legal dispute, often involving a payment.
Example:
The two companies reached a settlement just before the trial began.
statute of limitations
The time limit within which a legal claim must be brought.
Example:
The statute of limitations had run out by eleven days.
counterclaim
/ˈkaʊntərˌkleɪm/A claim made by a defendant against the person suing them.
Example:
The counterclaim was larger than the original action.
without prejudice
Said of a communication that cannot be used as evidence later.
Example:
The letter was marked without prejudice and quoted anyway.
indemnify
/ˌɪnˈdɛmnəˌfaɪ/To agree to pay for another party's losses.
Example:
The contract asks the supplier to indemnify the buyer entirely.
power of attorney
Legal authority to act on someone else's behalf.
Example:
Power of attorney was granted three weeks before it was needed.
disclosure
/dɪsˈkloʊʒər/The handing over of documents to the other side in a case.
Example:
Disclosure produced eleven boxes and one useful email.
