Terms Used In Washington Code > Chapter 85.08 - Diking, drainage, and sewerage improvement districts

• 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.
• Appellate: About appeals; an appellate court has the power to review the judgement of another lower court or tribunal.
• Appropriation: The provision of funds, through an annual appropriations act or a permanent law, for federal agencies to make payments out of the Treasury for specified purposes. The formal federal spending process consists of two sequential steps: authorization
• 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.
• County engineer: as used in this chapter , shall be held to include any engineer specially employed by the board of county commissioners or the board of supervisors to report upon and prepare plans for or to superintend the construction of a system or the maintenance thereof under the provisions of this chapter. See Washington Code 85.08.010
• Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
• Damages: as used in this chapter , shall be held to include the value of the property taken and injury to property not taken, or either, as the case may be. See Washington Code 85.08.010
• Deed: The legal instrument used to transfer title in real property from one person to another.
• 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}
• Ex officio: Literally, by virtue of one's office.
• Foreclosure: A legal process in which property that is collateral or security for a loan may be sold to help repay the loan when the loan is in default. ^{Source: OCC}
• Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury.
• Joint session: When both chambers of a legislature adopt a concurrent resolution to meet together.
• 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.
• Oath: A promise to tell the truth.
• person: may be construed to include the United States, this state, or any state or territory, or any public or private corporation or limited liability company, as well as an individual. See Washington Code 1.16.080
• property damaged: as used in this chapter , shall be held to include land, platted or unplatted, whether subject to or exempt from general taxation, and roads other than public roads. See Washington Code 85.08.010
• Prosecute: To charge someone with a crime. A prosecutor tries a criminal case on behalf of the government.
• Prosecuting attorney: as used in this chapter , shall be held to include any attorney specially employed by the board of county commissioners in connection with the carrying out of the provisions of this chapter to advise or carry on proceedings in court with reference to a system of improvement initiated and constructed under the provisions of this chapter. See Washington Code 85.08.010
• Public roads: as used in this chapter , shall be held to include state and county roads, streets, alleys and other public places; and "other roads" as used in this chapter shall be held to include railroads, street railroads, interurban railroads, logging roads, tramways and private roads and the right-of-way, roadbeds and tracks thereof. See Washington Code 85.08.010
• Remainder: 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.
• system of improvement: as used in this chapter , shall be held to include a dike, ditch, drain or watercourse, or sewer, and any side, lateral, spur or branch dike, ditch, drain or watercourse, or sewer, or other structure, necessary to secure the object of the improvement. See Washington Code 85.08.010
• 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.
• Verdict: The decision of a petit jury or a judge.
• waters developed: as used in this chapter shall not be held to include surface wastewaters from irrigation. See Washington Code 85.08.630