A complaint is the pleading that starts a case. Essentially, a document that sets forth a jurisdictional basis for the court's power, the plaintiff's cause of action, and a demand for judicial relief.
A plaintiff starts a...
courts and procedure
complementarity
The principle of complementarity is the basis of the relationship between the International Criminal Court (ICC) and national courts in relation to the application of international criminal law.
The principle of...
complete defense
A complete defense is a type of affirmative defense that nullifies an entire claim against the defendant. Complete defenses are relevant in both civil lawsuits and criminal proceedings.
Unlike a mitigation defense, which...
complete integration
Complete Integration refers to a record of the full expression of two parties’ intent. An oral discussion or written document is a complete integration if it captures the full agreement between the parties on some subject matter. Complete...
Comprehensive Crime Control Act of 1984
The Comprehensive Crime Control Act of 1984 was a landmark piece of legislation in the United States that introduced extensive reforms to federal criminal laws. It represented the first comprehensive revision of the U.S. criminal code since...
compromise verdict
A compromise verdict is a verdict that occurs when some jurors vote against their true views on certain issues to avoid a deadlock. The compromises often involve issues of liability/guilt or proper monetary compensation.
In...
compulsory counterclaim
A compulsory counterclaim is a claim made by a defendant against a plaintiff that arises from the same transaction or occurrence as the plaintiff's claim, and which is forfeited if not raised in the same lawsuit. If the defendant fails to...
compulsory joinder
Compulsory joinder, also known as mandatory joinder, refers to the process of joining parties or claims, without which the suit could not proceed, to a single suit. Compulsory joinder is an aspect of both civil and criminal procedures....
concealment
Concealment is the act of intentionally or unintentionally not revealing information that should be disclosed and would otherwise affect the terms or creation of a contract. A concealment can occur through either purposeful misrepresentation...
concurring opinion
A concurring opinion is an opinion that agrees with the majority opinion but does not agree with the rationale behind it. Instead of joining the majority, the concurring judge will write a separate opinion describing the basis behind their...