Glossary of Legal Terms

Paralegal

A person with legal skills, but who is not an attorney, and who works under the supervision of a lawyer or who is otherwise authorized by law to use those legal skills.

Partner

One who has united with others to form a partnership in business.

Party

A plaintiff or defendant in a lawsuit.

Pendente Lite

During the actual progress of a suit; during litigation.

Permanent Partial Disability Benefit

Money paid to a worker who, due to an accident during, or illness from, his or her work, suffers a lessened ability to perform work or enjoy usual activities outside of work.

Personal Injury

An injury to one's person.

Personal Injury Protection (PIP)

Automobile insurance benefits that cover medical expenses, lost wages and other damages. Sometimes referred to as "no-fault" coverage.

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) suit

A lawsuit to recover PIP benefits.

Petition

A formal written request addressed to some governmental authority. A written request to a board for action on some matter therein laid before it.

Petitioner

One who presents a formal, written application to a court requesting judicial action on a certain matter.

Plaintiff

A person who brings an action; the party who complains or sues in a civil action and is so named on the record. A person who seeks remedial relief for an injury to rights; it designates a complainant.

Power of Attorney

An instrument authorizing another to act as one’s agent or attorney. Such power may be general or special.

Pre-Nuptial Agreement

A written contract entered into by prospective spouses prior to marriage, by which the property rights of one or both of the prospective spouses are determined or are secured to one of both of them or their children.

Pre-Trial Hearing

Also known as a Pre-trial Conference. Procedural device used prior to trial to narrow issues to be tried, to secure stipulations as to matters and evidence to be heard, and to take all other steps necessary to aid in the disposition of the case.

Prevailing Party

The one in whose favor the decision or verdict is rendered and judgment entered.

Prevailing Wage Act (New Jersey)

Created to enforce a prevailing wage level for workers engaged in public work in order to protect them as well as their employers from the effects of serious and unfair competition. In New Jersey, rates vary by county and statewide and by the type of work performed.

Probate

Court procedure by which a will is proved to be valid or invalid. Generally includes all matters and proceedings pertaining to administration of estates, guardianships, etc.

See "What is Probate?"

Product Liability

A legal liability of manufacturers and sellers to compensate buyers, users, and even bystanders, for damages or injuries suffered because of defects in goods purchased. A tort which makes a manufacturer liable if his or her product has a defective condition that makes it unreasonably dangerous to the user or consumer.

Property

That which is peculiar or proper to a person; that which belongs exclusively to one.

Property Damage Claim

A claim to recover damages for destruction of property.

Property Settlement

An agreement made between spouses as an incident of a divorce proceeding, which may contain provisions for division of property owned by the spouses during the marriage, periodic payments by the husband or a lump sum payment or one time conveyance of property.

Public

Belonging to the people at large; open to all.

Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC)

The Public Employment Relations Commission deals with certain labor relations issues involving public employers, public employees, and unions that represent public employees. Such issues include representation matters, the scope of negotiations, unfair practices, mediation, fact-finding and arbitration.