Terms Used In South Carolina Code > Title 58 > Chapter 5 - Gas, Heat, Water, Sewerage Collection and Disposal, and Street Railway Companies

• Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
• Appellate: About appeals; an appellate court has the power to review the judgement of another lower court or tribunal.
• Assets: (1) The property comprising the estate of a deceased person, or (2) the property in a trust account.
• Clerk of court: An officer appointed by the court to work with the chief judge in overseeing the court's administration, especially to assist in managing the flow of cases through the court and to maintain court records.
• commission: means the Public Service Commission of the State of South Carolina. See South Carolina Code 58-5-920
• Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
• Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
• Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
• Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
• Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
• Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
• Federal safety standards: shall mean the minimum standards of gas safety adopted by the United States Department of Transportation pursuant to the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 1968 (P. See South Carolina Code 58-5-920
• gas: means natural gas, flammable gas or gas which is toxic or corrosive. See South Carolina Code 58-5-920
• gas utility: includes persons, corporations and gas authorities, municipalities, public service districts and other political subdivisions of this State and which are not subject to the jurisdiction of the Federal Power Commission as provided for by Section 3(b) of the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 1968. See South Carolina Code 58-5-920
• Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury.
• Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
• Lien: A claim against real or personal property in satisfaction of a debt.
• Oath: A promise to tell the truth.
• person: includes all individuals, partnerships or associations, cooperatives, lessees, assignees, trustees, receivers or other successors in interest, other than corporations. See South Carolina Code 58-5-920
• pipeline facilities: shall mean new and existing pipe rights-of-way and any equipment, facility or building used in the transportation of gas or the treatment of gas during the course of transportation; but the Commission is not authorized to prescribe the location or routing of any pipeline facility "rights-of-way. See South Carolina Code 58-5-920
• public: means the public generally, or any limited portion of the public, including a person or corporation. See South Carolina Code 58-5-920
• regulatory staff: means the executive director or the executive director and the employees of the Office of Regulatory Staff. See South Carolina Code 58-5-920
• Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
• Testify: Answer questions in court.
• Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
• Transcript: A written, word-for-word record of what was said, either in a proceeding such as a trial or during some other conversation, as in a transcript of a hearing or oral deposition.
• transportation of gas: when used in this article means gathering, transmission, distribution, and storage of gas. See South Carolina Code 58-5-920
• Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.