Legal Definitions - Vacatur

Vacatur refers to a court's action of setting aside, canceling, or annulling a previous legal judgment, order, or proceeding. When a court issues a vacatur, it essentially nullifies the prior decision, treating it as if it never happened or is no longer legally binding.

Here are some examples illustrating how vacatur applies:

• Example 1: Appellate Court Overturns a Judgment

  Imagine a trial court issues a judgment against a company in a business dispute. The company appeals this decision, arguing that the trial judge made a critical error in interpreting a specific law. If the appellate court agrees with the company's argument, finding that the trial court's legal error significantly impacted the outcome, it might issue a vacatur. This action would set aside the original judgment, meaning the trial court's decision is no longer valid, and the case might be sent back for a new trial or further proceedings.

• Example 2: Setting Aside a Settlement Agreement

  Consider a situation where two parties in a personal injury lawsuit reach a settlement agreement, and the court enters an order approving it. Later, one party discovers compelling evidence that the other party committed fraud during the settlement negotiations by hiding crucial information. If the court finds this evidence credible and determines that the fraud influenced the agreement, it could issue a vacatur. This would annul the settlement agreement and the associated court order, allowing the injured party to pursue their claim as if the fraudulent settlement never occurred.

• Example 3: Overturning a Criminal Conviction

  Suppose an individual is convicted of a crime based largely on circumstantial evidence. Years later, new forensic technology emerges, and DNA testing of evidence from the crime scene conclusively proves that the convicted individual could not have been the perpetrator. The defense attorney could then file a motion asking the court to vacate the conviction. If the court agrees that the new evidence fundamentally undermines the original verdict, it would issue a vacatur, setting aside the conviction and potentially leading to the individual's release and a dismissal of the charges or a new trial.