Terms Used In Michigan Laws > Chapter 600 > Act 236 of 1961 > Chapter 19 - Commencement of Action and Service of Process

• administrator: means the director of commerce or his or her designated representative. See Michigan Laws 430.1
• 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.
• Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
• Appliance: means an item of equipment which provides heating, cooling, cleaning, washing, drying, entertainment, or other services by converting energy in the form of fossil fuels or electricity into thermal energy or work and is generally used in or around a permanent or temporary household or residence, or in a commercial establishment. See Michigan Laws 429.351
• Carbonic gas: means carbon dioxide. See Michigan Laws 429.111
• Class of appliances: means a group of appliances whose functions or features are similar, and whose range of energy use or energy efficiency may be of interest to consumers. See Michigan Laws 429.351
• Commission: means the Michigan public service commission. See Michigan Laws 429.351
• 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.
• Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
• Consumer: means the first person who purchases a new appliance for purposes other than resale. See Michigan Laws 429.351
• 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.
• 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.
• Energy efficiency: means the energy use of a product relative to its output of services, as determined through test procedures contained or identified in a rule promulgated under this act. See Michigan Laws 429.351
• Energy use: means the energy resources used by a product under conditions of use approximating actual operating conditions insofar as practical, as determined through test procedures contained or identified in a rule promulgated under this act. See Michigan Laws 429.351
• 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}
• 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.
• Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
• 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.
• 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.
• Label: means an article of printed matter attached to an appliance or printed material appearing in a catalog from which a product may be purchased by order. See Michigan Laws 429.351
• 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}
• Mark: includes any trademark or service mark. See Michigan Laws 429.31
• 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.
• Person: means an individual, corporation, partnership, association, consortium, or an entity organized for a common business purpose. See Michigan Laws 429.351
• person: may extend and be applied to bodies politic and corporate, as well as to individuals. See Michigan Laws 8.3l
• 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.
• Presiding officer: A majority-party Senator who presides over the Senate and is charged with maintaining order and decorum, recognizing Members to speak, and interpreting the Senate's rules, practices and precedents.
• Prosecute: To charge someone with a crime. A prosecutor tries a criminal case on behalf of the government.
• Registrant: means the person to whom the registration of a trademark or service mark under this act is issued, his or her legal representatives, successors, or assigns. See Michigan Laws 429.31
• seal: shall be construed to include any of the following: