Simple English definitions for legal terms
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Notorious means that something is well-known, but usually in a negative way. It can also refer to property that is so obvious that the true owner should have known about it. This is also called "open and notorious" and is related to the legal concept of adverse possession.
Definition: Generally known and spoken of, usually unfavorably. (Of the possession of property) so conspicuous as to impute notice to the true owner.
Example 1: The notorious criminal was finally caught by the police.
Example 2: The squatters had been living in the abandoned house for over a year, and their presence was open and notorious.
Explanation: The word "notorious" is used to describe something or someone that is widely known, but usually in a negative way. In example 1, the criminal is well-known for their bad actions. In example 2, the squatters are living in a house that is not theirs, and their presence is so obvious that it would be hard for the true owner not to notice. This is important in the legal concept of adverse possession, where someone can gain ownership of a property if they openly and notoriously possess it for a certain amount of time.