Legal Definitions - side

The term "side" has several meanings in a legal context, often referring to a position, a party, or a boundary.

• 1. A Position or Stance:

  Refers to a particular viewpoint, alignment, or argument adopted by an individual or group in a disagreement, debate, or conflict.

  • Example 1: During a contentious public hearing about a proposed zoning change, many residents spoke passionately, stating they were "on the side of preserving the historic character" of the neighborhood.

    Explanation: Here, "side" indicates the residents' collective stance or position in opposition to the proposed change, aligning with the goal of preservation.

  • Example 2: In a criminal trial, after the defense attorney presented their closing arguments, some observers felt that the evidence presented put them "on the side of acquittal."

    Explanation: This illustrates "side" as a leaning or belief in favor of a particular outcome (acquittal) based on the arguments and evidence presented.

• 2. A Party in a Dispute or Transaction:

  Refers to one of the distinct individuals, groups, or entities involved in a formal legal proceeding, negotiation, or agreement.

  • Example 1: In a complex business acquisition, the purchasing company and the selling company each hired their own legal teams to represent their respective "sides" during contract negotiations.

    Explanation: Here, "side" refers to each of the two distinct parties (the buyer and the seller) involved in the transaction, each with their own interests and legal representation.

  • Example 2: When a landlord and a tenant go to court over an eviction dispute, the landlord represents one "side" of the case, and the tenant represents the other "side."

    Explanation: This usage identifies the two opposing parties in a legal dispute, each presenting their arguments and evidence.

• 3. (Archaic) A Division of Court Jurisdiction:

  Historically, this term referred to a specific branch or division of a court's authority, such as the "equity side" for matters of fairness and the "law side" for matters governed by strict statutes. This usage is no longer common in modern legal practice.

  • Example: In 18th-century English courts, a litigant seeking a remedy based on principles of fairness and conscience, rather than strict legal precedent, would have brought their case before the "equity side" of the court.

    Explanation: This example demonstrates the historical use of "side" to denote a specific jurisdictional branch of a court that handled particular types of legal issues.

• 4. A Boundary Line of Land:

  In property law, particularly when describing a parcel of land that is generally rectangular, "side" refers to one of the boundary lines, often implying the longer ones.

  • Example 1: A property deed might describe a lot as having a "north side" measuring 120 feet and a "west side" measuring 60 feet, clearly delineating its dimensions.

    Explanation: In this context, "side" refers to a specific linear boundary of the property, indicating its length and orientation.

  • Example 2: During a land survey, the surveyor meticulously measured the length of the "eastern side" of the property to ensure it matched the legal description on file.

    Explanation: This illustrates "side" as a physical boundary line of a piece of land, crucial for accurate property identification and demarcation.