Every profession has their own terminology, and outsiders may not understand certain terms or phrases that are used. In many cases, it’s ok that you don’t know what a demurrer is, but when you find yourself consulting with a criminal lawyer, the more vocabulary you have under your belt, the better you will understand what is going on. The legal services offered at The Law Office of Lisa Pelosi vary from drug crimes to DUI charges and domestic violence. Each area may have its own terms that are specific to your case. If you find that you are in need of a criminal lawyer, contact our law firm for a free consultation. In order for you to better understand the legal jargon that may arise during our conversations, here are some common terms that are used.

Plaintiff

The plaintiff, or a claimant, is the person who files the lawsuit. The plaintiff wishes to recover damages from the defendant when a wrong has occurred.

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Defendant

A defendant is one who is defending themselves in a lawsuit or the person who was sued by the plaintiff. There are claims that can be brought against the plaintiff, called counterclaims, but generally, the defendant is one who is accused of committing a crime.

Credibility

Think credible or incredible, meaning that someone is believable, honest, or trustworthy when they are telling a story or speaking. Showing that you have credibility by being honest and upfront from the very beginning will show your lawyer, the judge, and in the end, the jury that what you are saying is believable. Oftentimes, there are two sides to a story, and one side will try to discredit the other. When it comes to any criminal case, the jury needs to believe that whoever is on the stand is telling the truth.

defense attorneyDamages

Generally, this term is used to describe an amount of money that can be recovered in a lawsuit. Depending on the case, damages can mean different things. Economic damages, for example, can mean profit that is lost while recovering from an injury or medical costs. Physical damages can mean injuries sustained, emotional distress, pain and suffering, scars, disability, or loss of quality of life. There are also nominal damages and punitive damages.

  • Nominal damages occur when a court decides that a legal wrong has taken place, but there is not a financial loss.
  • Punitive damages are awarded to punish the defendant, rather than recover something that was lost.

Default

A default is when either the defendant or plaintiff has failed to do something that is required by law. For example, a defendant did not appear in court when required. When this occurs, the judge is able to make a default judgment, meaning that the defendant loses the case.

Discovery

Both sides in a lawsuit are able to request information about the case from the other side. There are multiple methods of discovery:

  • Interrogatories are a series of written questions one side will ask the other. The answers must be written and are given under oath.
  • Request for Production is when either side of a case requests documents that relate to the case.
  • Depositions are a common form of discovery between an attorney (who will ask questions) and the deponent from the opposing side (who will answer questions). A court reporter will take down what is spoken and create a transcript that will be signed by the deponent if it is accurate.

Bonus Vocab: Demurrer

A response to a complaint in a lawsuit stating that there are no legal grounds for a case, even if the facts of the case are true. Reasons for a demurrer are when a complaint is unclear or it is missing a fact.

When you find that you are in need of a criminal defense attorney, call a reliable criminal lawyer you can trust and communicate with effectively. The Law Office of Lisa Pelosi has over 30 years of experience and will fight to win your case. Call our law firm today for a free consultation.