Simple English definitions for legal terms
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Term: DE CHAMPERTIA
Definition: De champertia is a legal term that refers to a writ that orders judges to enforce laws against champerty. Champerty is when someone provides financial assistance to a lawsuit in exchange for a share of the winnings. De char et de sank is another legal term that means "of flesh and blood."
Definition: De champertia (dee kam-pər-shee-ə), n. [Law Latin "about champerty"] is a historical writ that orders justices of the bench to enforce the champerty laws. Champerty is an illegal agreement between a party to a lawsuit and a third party who has no legitimate interest in the lawsuit, where the third party agrees to finance the lawsuit in exchange for a share of the proceeds.
Example: If a person who is not a party to a lawsuit agrees to pay the legal fees of one of the parties in exchange for a share of the proceeds, this would be considered champerty. The de champertia writ would be used to enforce the laws against champerty.
Explanation: The example illustrates how de champertia was used to enforce the laws against champerty. The writ was used to order the justices of the bench to take action against those who engaged in champerty, which was considered an illegal practice. The writ was an important tool in maintaining the integrity of the legal system and preventing abuses of the legal process.
Term: DE CHAR ET DE SANK
Definition: De char et de sank (də shahr ay də sangk), n. [Law French] is a historical term that means "of flesh and blood."
Example: In medieval times, it was believed that only people who were de char et de sank could inherit property. This meant that animals, such as horses or dogs, could not inherit property because they were not considered to be of flesh and blood.
Explanation: The example illustrates how the term de char et de sank was used to distinguish between humans and animals in matters of inheritance. The term was used to establish the legal rights of individuals and to prevent animals from inheriting property. This shows how legal concepts can be influenced by cultural beliefs and practices.