Terms Used In Louisiana Revised Statutes > Title 19 > Part III-F - Expropriation of Property by a Declaration of Taking by the City of Ruston

• 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.
• Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
• Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
• Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
• En banc: In the bench or "full bench." Refers to court sessions with the entire membership of a court participating rather than the usual quorum. U.S. courts of appeals usually sit in panels of three judges, but may expand to a larger number in certain cases. They are then said to be sitting en banc.
• Governing authority: means the governing authority of the city of Ruston. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 19:135
• Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
• Property: means any portion of immovable property, including servitudes, rights-of-way, and other rights in or to immovable property. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 19:135
• Quorum: The number of legislators that must be present to do business.
• Real property: Land, and all immovable fixtures erected on, growing on, or affixed to the land.
• Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.