Michigan Laws > Chapter 445 > Act 331 of 1976 – Michigan Consumer Protection Act
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Terms Used In Michigan Laws > Chapter 445 > Act 331 of 1976 - Michigan Consumer Protection Act
- 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.
- 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.
- Appellate: About appeals; an appellate court has the power to review the judgement of another lower court or tribunal.
- Assets: (1) The property comprising the estate of a deceased person, or (2) the property in a trust account.
- business opportunity: means the sale or lease of any products, equipment, supplies, or services for the purpose of enabling the purchaser to start a business, and in which the seller represents 1 or more of the following:
(i) That the seller will provide locations or assist the purchaser in finding locations for the use or operation of vending machines, racks, display cases, or other similar devices, or currency operated amusement machines or devices, on premises neither owned nor leased by the purchaser or seller. See Michigan Laws 445.902Chief judge: The judge who has primary responsibility for the administration of a court but also decides cases; chief judges are determined by seniority. Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant. Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed. Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name. Counterclaim: A claim that a defendant makes against a plaintiff. counterclaim: as used in this act , includes setoff and recoupment. See Michigan Laws 600.111 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. Dependent: A person dependent for support upon another. Deposition: An oral statement made before an officer authorized by law to administer oaths. Such statements are often taken to examine potential witnesses, to obtain discovery, or to be used later in trial. Documentary material: includes the original or copy of a book, record, report, memorandum, paper, communication, tabulation, map, chart, photograph, mechanical transcription, or other tangible document or recording, wherever situated. See Michigan Laws 445.902 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. 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. Fair Credit Reporting Act: A federal law, established in 1971 and revised in 1997, that gives consumers the right to see their credit records and correct any mistakes. Source: OCC Fair market value: The price at which an asset would change hands in a transaction between a willing, informed buyer and a willing, informed seller. Fraud: Intentional deception resulting in injury to another. Future damages: means damages arising from personal injury which the trier of fact finds will accrue after the damage findings are made and includes damages for medical treatment, care and custody, loss of earnings, loss of earning capacity, loss of bodily function, and pain and suffering. See Michigan Laws 600.6301 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 Gift: A voluntary transfer or conveyance of property without consideration, or for less than full and adequate consideration based on fair market value. in writing: shall be construed to include printing, engraving, and lithographing; except that if the written signature of a person is required by law, the signature shall be the proper handwriting of the person or, if the person is unable to write, the person's proper mark, which may be, unless otherwise expressly prohibited by law, a clear and classifiable fingerprint of the person made with ink or another substance. See Michigan Laws 8.3q Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury. Interrogatories: Written questions asked by one party of an opposing party, who must answer them in writing under oath; a discovery device in a lawsuit. judgment: as used in this act , includes decree. See Michigan Laws 600.112 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. Lease: A contract transferring the use of property or occupancy of land, space, structures, or equipment in consideration of a payment (e.g., rent). Source: OCC Lien: A claim against real or personal property in satisfaction of a debt. Litigation: A case, controversy, or lawsuit. Participants (plaintiffs and defendants) in lawsuits are called litigants. National Bank: A bank that is subject to the supervision of the Comptroller of the Currency. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency is a bureau of the U.S. Treasury Department. A national bank can be recognized because it must have "national" or "national association" in its name. Source: OCC Oath: A promise to tell the truth. oath: shall be construed to include the word "affirmation" in all cases where by law an affirmation may be substituted for an oath; and in like cases the word "sworn" shall be construed to include the word "affirmed". See Michigan Laws 8.3k Obligation: An order placed, contract awarded, service received, or similar transaction during a given period that will require payments during the same or a future period. Partnership: A voluntary contract between two or more persons to pool some or all of their assets into a business, with the agreement that there will be a proportional sharing of profits and losses. Performing group: means a vocal or instrumental group seeking to use the name of another group that has previously released a commercial sound recording under that name. See Michigan Laws 445.902 Person: means an individual, corporation, limited liability company, trust, partnership, incorporated or unincorporated association, or other legal entity. See Michigan Laws 445.902 Personal injury: means bodily harm, sickness, disease, death, or emotional harm resulting from bodily harm. See Michigan Laws 600.6301 Personal property: All property that is not real property. Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit. 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. Probable cause: A reasonable ground for belief that the offender violated a specific law. Probate: Proving a will Prosecute: To charge someone with a crime. A prosecutor tries a criminal case on behalf of the government. Real property: Land, and all immovable fixtures erected on, growing on, or affixed to the land. Recording group: means a vocal or instrumental group that meets both of the following:
(i) At least 1 of the members of the group has previously released a commercial sound recording under the group's name. See Michigan Laws 445.902Remainder: An interest in property that takes effect in the future at a specified time or after the occurrence of some event, such as the death of a life tenant. Reporter: Makes a record of court proceedings and prepares a transcript, and also publishes the court's opinions or decisions (in the courts of appeals). Restitution: The court-ordered payment of money by the defendant to the victim for damages caused by the criminal action. Service of process: The service of writs or summonses to the appropriate party. shall not apply: means that the pertinent provision is not operative as to certain persons or things or in conjunction with a particular date or dates. See Michigan Laws 8.4c Sound recording: means a work that results from the fixation on a material object of a series of musical, spoken, or other sounds regardless of the nature of the material object, such as a disk, tape, or other phono-record, in which the sounds are embodied. See Michigan Laws 445.902 state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, shall be construed to extend to and include the District of Columbia and the several territories belonging to the United States; and the words "United States" shall be construed to include the district and territories. See Michigan Laws 8.3o Statute: A law passed by a legislature. 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. Summons: Another word for subpoena used by the criminal justice system. Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries. Tort: A civil wrong or breach of a duty to another person, as outlined by law. A very common tort is negligent operation of a motor vehicle that results in property damage and personal injury in an automobile accident. Trade or commerce: means the conduct of a business providing goods, property, or service primarily for personal, family, or household purposes and includes the advertising, solicitation, offering for sale or rent, sale, lease, or distribution of a service or property, tangible or intangible, real, personal, or mixed, or any other article, or a business opportunity. See Michigan Laws 445.902 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. United States: shall be construed to include the district and territories. See Michigan Laws 8.3o Venue: The geographical location in which a case is tried. Verdict: The decision of a petit jury or a judge. Writ: A formal written command, issued from the court, requiring the performance of a specific act.