Legal Definitions - ADSM

ADSM is an abbreviation for the Latin legal phrase AD SECTAM, which translates to "at the suit of" or "at the following of." Historically, this term was used in legal documents and court records to identify the defendant in a lawsuit. It indicated that the person named after ad sectam was the party against whom the legal action was initiated.

While largely archaic in modern legal practice, understanding ad sectam is crucial for interpreting older legal texts and historical court proceedings, as it clearly designated the individual or entity being sued.

Here are some examples illustrating the use of AD SECTAM:

• Historical Court Record: Imagine a legal document from the 18th century detailing a dispute over a debt.

  • Scenario: A court ledger entry reads: "Judgment rendered for the plaintiff in the case of John Doe ad sectam Richard Roe concerning a defaulted loan."
  • Explanation: This phrase indicates that Richard Roe was the defendant, meaning the lawsuit was brought *against* Richard Roe by John Doe. John Doe is the plaintiff (the one suing), and Richard Roe is the defendant (the one being sued).

• Genealogical Research: A historian or genealogist is examining old family records to trace property ownership.

  • Scenario: They uncover an old land deed that references a prior legal challenge: "The transfer of the estate was finalized following the resolution of the action of Smith ad sectam Jones."
  • Explanation: In this context, "Smith ad sectam Jones" signifies that Jones was the party being sued (the defendant) by Smith (the plaintiff) in that historical property dispute. The outcome of that suit directly impacted the estate's ownership.

• Legal Scholarship: A law student is studying the evolution of legal terminology and procedure in common law jurisdictions.

  • Scenario: Their textbook explains that early English writs often identified the defendant by stating "X ad sectam Y," where X was the party being summoned to court.
  • Explanation: This demonstrates how ad sectam was a standard legal convention for clearly designating the individual or entity against whom a legal claim was made. "X" would be the defendant, and "Y" would be the plaintiff initiating the legal action.