Terms Used In South Carolina Code > Title 44 > Chapter 7 > Article 1 - General Provisions

• 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.
• Commission: means the State Livestock-Poultry Health Commission or an officer or employee of the commission to whom authority to act in its stead is delegated. See South Carolina Code 47-4-20
• Common law: The legal system that originated in England and is now in use in the United States. It is based on judicial decisions rather than legislative action.
• Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
• 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.
• Deed: The legal instrument used to transfer title in real property from one person to another.
• Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
• Department: means the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, including county health departments. See South Carolina Code 47-5-20
• Director: means the Director of the Division of Livestock-Poultry Health Programs, Clemson University. See South Carolina Code 47-4-20
• Fee simple: Absolute title to property with no limitations or restrictions regarding the person who may inherit it.
• Gift: A voluntary transfer or conveyance of property without consideration, or for less than full and adequate consideration based on fair market value.
• 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.
• Livestock: means all classes and breeds of animals, domesticated or feral, raised for use, sale, or display. See South Carolina Code 47-4-20
• Mortgage: The written agreement pledging property to a creditor as collateral for a loan.
• Oath: A promise to tell the truth.
• Permit: means official authorization to engage in a specific activity. See South Carolina Code 47-4-20
• Person: means an individual, a trust, a firm, a joint stock company, a corporation including a government corporation, a partnership, an association, a municipality, a commission, or a political subdivision of this or another state. See South Carolina Code 47-4-20
• Pet: means only domesticated cats, dogs, and ferrets. See South Carolina Code 47-5-20
• Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
• Poultry: means all avian species including wildfowl raised for use, sale, or display and domestic fowl. See South Carolina Code 47-4-20
• Quarantine: means a prescribed, restricted confinement of a pet or other animal up to and including a state of enforced isolation. See South Carolina Code 47-5-20
• State Veterinarian: means the Director of Livestock-Poultry Health Division, Clemson University, and his agents, assistants, and livestock inspectors. See South Carolina Code 47-4-20
• Summons: Another word for subpoena used by the criminal justice system.
• Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
• Writ: A formal written command, issued from the court, requiring the performance of a specific act.