Legal Definitions - dismission

The term dismission is an older, somewhat archaic legal term that refers to the act of sending someone or something away, or the formal termination of a matter. It is essentially an older synonym for "dismissal."

It can apply in several contexts:

• Sending Away or Disbanding: In a general sense, it refers to the act of formally sending a group or individual away.

  • Example: During a particularly sensitive hearing, the judge ordered the dismission of all non-essential personnel and spectators from the courtroom to ensure privacy and decorum.

    Explanation: Here, dismission means the judge formally directed the non-essential individuals to leave the courtroom, effectively disbanding their presence for that part of the proceedings.

• Removal from Office or Position: It can also refer to the formal removal of an individual from their employment, office, or role.

  • Example: After a thorough investigation into allegations of financial mismanagement, the company's board of directors voted for the immediate dismission of the Chief Financial Officer.

    Explanation: In this scenario, dismission signifies the formal termination of the CFO's employment and removal from their executive position due to serious misconduct.

• Termination of a Legal Case: In a legal context, it signifies a court's decision to end a lawsuit or legal proceeding without a full trial on the merits, often because the case cannot be legally sustained.

  • Example: The defendant's attorney filed a motion for the dismission of the plaintiff's breach of contract claim, arguing that the plaintiff had failed to file the lawsuit within the legally mandated statute of limitations.

    Explanation: This illustrates dismission as a court's decision to formally end the contract lawsuit because a critical legal deadline was missed, preventing the case from proceeding further.