Terms Used In Montana Code > Title 69 > Chapter 3 > Part 2 - Requirements for Public Utilities

• Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
• commission: means the public service commission provided for in 2-15-2602. See Montana Code 69-1-101
• Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
• Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
• Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
• 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.
• Oath: A promise to tell the truth.
• Oath: includes an affirmation or declaration. See Montana Code 1-1-201
• Person: includes a corporation or other entity as well as a natural person. See Montana Code 1-1-201
• Property: means real and personal property. See Montana Code 1-1-205
• State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories. See Montana Code 1-1-201
• Statute of limitations: A law that sets the time within which parties must take action to enforce their rights.
• Usage: means a reasonable and lawful public custom concerning transactions of the same nature as those which are to be affected thereby, existing at the place where the obligation is to be performed, and either known to the parties or so well established, general, and uniform that the parties must be presumed to have acted with reference thereto. See Montana Code 1-1-206
• Willfully: when applied to the intent with which an act is done or omitted, means a purpose or willingness to commit the act or make the omission referred to. See Montana Code 1-1-204