A relator is a private individual who brings a lawsuit on behalf of the government. This term is often used in the context of qui tam actions under the False Claims Act. If the prosecution succeeds, the private party receives a portion of the...
courts and procedure
relevant
Relevant means, with regards to evidence, having some value or tendency to prove a matter of fact significant to the case. Federal Rule of Evidence 401 states that “evidence is relevant if: (a) it has any tendency to make a fact more or less...
remand
To remand something means to send it back, or to return. The usual contexts in which this word are encountered are in the reversal of an appellate decision, and regarding the custody of a prisoner.
A prisoner is said to be remanded when they are...remedy
A remedy is a form of court enforcement of a legal right resulting from a successful civil lawsuit. Remedies are designed to address the harm suffered by a party due to the unlawful actions or omissions of another party. They ensure that...
remittitur
A trial court order in response to an excessive damage award or verdict by a jury which gives the plaintiff the option to accept a reduced damage award or conviction, or the court may order a new trial. Latin for “to send back, to remit.”...
removal
Removal refers to the power of defendants in some state civil suits to move a case to federal court. Generally, if the case could have been brought in federal court (i.e., there is federal question jurisdiction or diversity jurisdiction), a...
removal warrant
A removal warrant, also known as a warrant of removal, is a legal document issued by a court or authorized agency that orders the transfer of an individual from one jurisdiction to another, typically for the purpose of facing legal...
replevin
Replevin is an action seeking return of personal property wrongfully taken or held by the defendant. In exchange for the personal property, the plaintiff in the action pledges a security and is allowed to hold the property until the case is...
reply brief
When a case is appealed to a higher court, the respondent submits a reply brief in answer to the "opening brief" of an appellant. In the trial court context, a party who files a motion often has the opportunity to file a reply brief after the other...
request for admission
A request for admission is a discovery device that allows one party to submit a written request for another party to admit the truth of matters set forth in the request, or admit the genuineness of described documents under oath. Generally,...