Maine Revised Statutes > Title 24 > Chapter 21 > Subchapter 4-A – Mandatory Prelitigation Screening and Mediation Panels
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Terms Used In Maine Revised Statutes > Title 24 > Chapter 21 > Subchapter 4-A - Mandatory Prelitigation Screening and Mediation Panels
- Action for professional negligence: means any action for damages for injury or death against any health care provider, its agents or employees, or health care practitioner or the health care practitioner's agents or employees, whether based upon tort or breach of contract or otherwise, arising out of the provision or failure to provide health care services. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 24 Sec. 2502
- Allegation: something that someone says happened.
- Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
- 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.
- Discovery: Lawyers' examination, before trial, of facts and documents in possession of the opponents to help the lawyers prepare for trial.
- Dismissal: The dropping of a case by the judge without further consideration or hearing. Source:
- 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.
- Fraud: Intentional deception resulting in injury to another.
- Health care practitioner: means physicians and all others certified, registered or licensed in the healing arts, including, but not limited to, nurses, podiatrists, optometrists, chiropractors, physical therapists, dentists, psychologists, physicians' assistants and veterinarians. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 24 Sec. 2502
- Health care provider: includes a veterinary hospital. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 24 Sec. 2502
- Impeachment: (1) The process of calling something into question, as in "impeaching the testimony of a witness." (2) The constitutional process whereby the House of Representatives may "impeach" (accuse of misconduct) high officers of the federal government for trial in the Senate.
- in writing: include printing and other modes of making legible words. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 1 Sec. 72
- 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.
- 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.
- Majority: when used in reference to age shall mean the age of 18 and over. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 1 Sec. 72
- Oath: A promise to tell the truth.
- Oath: includes an affirmation, when affirmation is allowed. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 1 Sec. 72
- Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
- Professional negligence: means that:
A. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 24 Sec. 2502Prosecute: To charge someone with a crime. A prosecutor tries a criminal case on behalf of the government. Settlement: Parties to a lawsuit resolve their difference without having a trial. Settlements often involve the payment of compensation by one party in satisfaction of the other party's claims. Statute of limitations: A law that sets the time within which parties must take action to enforce their rights. Subpoena: A command to a witness to appear and give testimony. Testify: Answer questions in court. Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries. Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence. Year: means a calendar year, unless otherwise expressed. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 1 Sec. 72