Simple English definitions for legal terms
Read a random definition: public agency
A case is a legal proceeding or controversy that is still pending. It can be a civil or criminal action, and it can be under the immediate consideration of the court. A case can also be a written statement of facts agreed upon by the parties, so that certain legal issues can be decided by an appellate court. A test case is a lawsuit brought to establish an important legal principle or right. It can be brought by mutual consent on agreed facts, and it is frequently used to consolidate several suits that are based on the same facts and evidence. In simpler terms, a case is a legal problem that needs to be solved, and a test case is a way to establish a new legal rule.
Definition: A civil or criminal proceeding, action, suit, or controversy at law or in equity that has been settled by the parties involved. It can also refer to a formal written statement of the facts in a case, submitted to the court jointly by the parties so that a decision may be rendered without trial.
These examples illustrate how a case agreed on can refer to both a settlement between parties and a written statement of facts submitted to the court. In both cases, the parties involved have come to an agreement and the case can be resolved without the need for a trial.