Simple English definitions for legal terms
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A case is a legal proceeding or action, either civil or criminal, that is still pending or under consideration by a court. It can also refer to a written statement of facts agreed upon by the parties involved, which is used to decide certain legal issues by an appellate court. A test case is a lawsuit brought to establish an important legal principle or right, while a special case is an agreement between litigants to submit the case to a judge rather than a jury. Inactive cases are those that are not proceeding towards resolution, and a case of first impression is one that presents a legal issue that has not been previously decided by any controlling legal authority in that jurisdiction.
Definition: A written statement of the facts proved at trial and drawn up and stipulated to by the parties, so that certain legal issues can be decided by an appellate court.
Example: In a case where two parties are disputing over a contract, they may agree to submit a case reserved to an appellate court to decide on a specific legal issue, such as the interpretation of a particular clause in the contract.
This example illustrates how a case reserved can be used to simplify the legal process by allowing parties to focus on specific legal issues rather than the entire case. It also shows how the parties can agree to submit a case reserved to an appellate court, which can save time and money compared to a full trial.