Terms Used In Louisiana Revised Statutes > Title 13 > Chapter 18 - Seizures in General

• Access: means to program, to execute programs on, to communicate with, store data in, retrieve data from, or otherwise make use of any resources, including data or programs, of a computer, computer system, or computer network. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 14:73.1
• Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
• Amendment: A proposal to alter the text of a pending bill or other measure by striking out some of it, by inserting new language, or both. Before an amendment becomes part of the measure, thelegislature must agree to it.
• Annuity: A periodic (usually annual) payment of a fixed sum of money for either the life of the recipient or for a fixed number of years. A series of payments under a contract from an insurance company, a trust company, or an individual. Annuity payments are made at regular intervals over a period of more than one full year.
• Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
• 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.
• Attorney-at-law: A person who is legally qualified and licensed to practice law, and to represent and act for clients in legal proceedings.
• Bankruptcy: Refers to statutes and judicial proceedings involving persons or businesses that cannot pay their debts and seek the assistance of the court in getting a fresh start. Under the protection of the bankruptcy court, debtors may discharge their debts, perhaps by paying a portion of each debt. Bankruptcy judges preside over these proceedings.
• Computer: includes an electronic, magnetic, optical, or other high-speed data processing device or system performing logical, arithmetic, and storage functions, and includes any property, data storage facility, or communications facility directly related to or operating in conjunction with such device or system. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 14:73.1
• Computer network: means a set of related, remotely connected devices and communication facilities including at least one computer system with capability to transmit data through communication facilities. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 14:73.1
• Computer program: means an ordered set of data representing coded instructions or statements that when executed by a computer cause the computer to process data. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 14:73.1
• Computer services: means providing access to or service or data from a computer, a computer system, or a computer network, and also includes but is not limited to data processing services, Internet services, electronic mail services, electronic message services, or information or data stored in connection therewith. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 14:73.1
• Computer software: means a set of computer programs, procedures, and associated documentation concerned with operation of a computer system. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 14:73.1
• Computer system: means a set of functionally related, connected or unconnected, computer equipment, devices, or computer software. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 14:73.1
• Counterclaim: A claim that a defendant makes against a plaintiff.
• Deed: The legal instrument used to transfer title in real property from one person to another.
• Dental practitioner: means anyone issued a permit or licensed to practice under the provisions of Chapter 9 of Title 37, when engaged in such practice, and shall include professional dental corporations and partnerships. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 9:4230
• Docket: A log containing brief entries of court proceedings.
• Electronic mail service provider: means any person who both:

              (a) Is an intermediary in sending or receiving electronic mail. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 14:73.1

• Equitable: Pertaining to civil suits in "equity" rather than in "law." In English legal history, the courts of "law" could order the payment of damages and could afford no other remedy. See damages. A separate court of "equity" could order someone to do something or to cease to do something. See, e.g., injunction. In American jurisprudence, the federal courts have both legal and equitable power, but the distinction is still an important one. For example, a trial by jury is normally available in "law" cases but not in "equity" cases. ^{Source: U.S. Courts}
• Escrow: Money given to a third party to be held for payment until certain conditions are met.
• Ex officio: Literally, by virtue of one's office.
• Fiduciary: A trustee, executor, or administrator.
• Forgery: The fraudulent signing or alteration of another's name to an instrument such as a deed, mortgage, or check. The intent of the forgery is to deceive or defraud. ^{Source: OCC}
• Garnishment: Generally, garnishment is a court proceeding in which a creditor asks a court to order a third party who owes money to the debtor or otherwise holds assets belonging to the debtor to turn over to the creditor any of the debtor
• Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
• Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury.
• Intangible property: Property that has no intrinsic value, but is merely the evidence of value such as stock certificates, bonds, and promissory notes.
• Intellectual property: includes data, computer programs, computer software, trade secrets as defined in Louisiana Revised Statutes 14:73.1
• Internet-connected device: means a physical object to which both of the following apply:

              (a) Is capable of connecting to, and is in regular connection with, the internet. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 14:73.1

• Lawsuit: A legal action started by a plaintiff against a defendant based on a complaint that the defendant failed to perform a legal duty, resulting in harm to the plaintiff.
• Litigation: A case, controversy, or lawsuit. Participants (plaintiffs and defendants) in lawsuits are called litigants.
• Medical institution: means any hospital as defined in Louisiana Revised Statutes 9:4230
• Medical practitioner: means anyone issued a permit or licensed to practice under the provisions of Chapters 11, 13, or 15 of Title 37, when engaged in such practice, and shall include professional medical corporations and partnerships, pharmacists, optometrists, podiatrists, chiropractors, physical therapists, and psychologists. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 9:4230
• Mortgage: The written agreement pledging property to a creditor as collateral for a loan.
• Mortgage loan: A loan made by a lender to a borrower for the financing of real property. ^{Source: OCC}
• Oath: A promise to tell the truth.
• Oral argument: An opportunity for lawyers to summarize their position before the court and also to answer the judges' questions.
• Plea: In a criminal case, the defendant's statement pleading "guilty" or "not guilty" in answer to the charges, a declaration made in open court.
• Pleadings: Written statements of the parties in a civil case of their positions. In the federal courts, the principal pleadings are the complaint and the answer.
• Proper means: includes :

              (a) Discovery by independent invention. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 14:73.1

• Property: means property as defined in Louisiana Revised Statutes 14:73.1
• Prosecute: To charge someone with a crime. A prosecutor tries a criminal case on behalf of the government.
• Public defender: Represent defendants who can't afford an attorney in criminal matters.
• Restitution: The court-ordered payment of money by the defendant to the victim for damages caused by the criminal action.
• Summons: Another word for subpoena used by the criminal justice system.
• Temporary restraining order: Prohibits a person from an action that is likely to cause irreparable harm. This differs from an injunction in that it may be granted immediately, without notice to the opposing party, and without a hearing. It is intended to last only until a hearing can be held.
• Testify: Answer questions in court.
• 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.
• Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
• Unsolicited bulk electronic mail: means any electronic message which is developed and distributed in an effort to sell or lease consumer goods or services and is sent in the same or substantially similar form to more than one thousand recipients. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 14:73.1
• Venue: The geographical location in which a case is tried.