Legal Definitions - quasi

The term "quasi" is a prefix or adjective used in legal contexts to describe something that resembles another legal concept or entity, but lacks some essential characteristic or is not fully identical. It signifies "as if" or "almost," indicating a strong similarity but with a critical distinction that prevents it from being the genuine article.

• Quasi-Governmental Organization

  A private corporation, such as a national railway company that receives significant government funding and operates under strict public regulations, might be described as a quasi-governmental organization.

  Explanation: While it performs a vital public service and is heavily influenced by government policy, it remains a private entity, not directly part of the state's administrative structure. It resembles a government agency in its function and public impact but lacks the full legal status and direct accountability of a true government body.

• Quasi-Easement

  Imagine a large estate owned by a single person, where a driveway on one part of the land is the only practical access to a garage located on another part of the same land. If the owner later sells the part with the garage to a new buyer, the buyer might argue for a quasi-easement to continue using the driveway.

  Explanation: Before the sale, there couldn't be a formal easement because one cannot have an easement over their own property. However, the owner's prior use created a situation as if an easement existed. The law might recognize this "as if" situation to grant the new owner a formal easement, reflecting the prior arrangement.

• Quasi-Judicial Body

  A state's Workers' Compensation Board, which holds hearings, reviews evidence, and issues rulings on claims for workplace injuries, functions as a quasi-judicial body.

  Explanation: This board performs many functions similar to a court, such as interpreting laws and making binding decisions. However, it is typically an administrative agency within the executive branch, not part of the independent judicial system. It resembles a court in its decision-making process but operates under different rules and within a specific administrative framework, lacking the broad jurisdiction of a traditional court.