Affidavit – A formal written statement declared under oath.
Arbitration Arbitration is a non-judiciary legal procedure outside the courts , where parties disagree with an impartial arbitrator.
Attorney-client privilege Communication between attorneys and client are private.
Complaint is a legally-binding document filed with the court, which initiates the process of a civil suit. The complaint details the allegations of the plaintiffs against the defendant, as well as the petitions they make for relief.
Contingency fee In contrast to an hourly fee or fixed amount the contingency fee given to an attorney when the lawyer is successful in obtaining a settlement for his client. Lawyers receive a portion of the settlement amount. If the lawyer fails in recovering any money on behalf of the client the client, no fees are due by the customer.
Decubitis Ulcer The damaged area of tissues and skin, which result from pressure that continues to impede circulation to an area within the body. Insufficient circulation in the region leads to the tissue dying. Bed sores are most common during a time when someone is bedridden or is unable to shift bodies. Sometimes referred to pressure sores or bed sores.
The defendant – The person against whom is the subject of a suit.
Deposition A written testimony given under oath where one of the parties asks questions to either the other party or any relevant witnesses.
Discovery is the investigative process that occurs prior to a lawsuit going to trial. In this time, the litigants gather information and facts concerning the other side to construct their case. The discovery process can be documented as questions or requests for production as well as oral. It generally takes the form of deposition.
Docket A schedule of the actions that will be considered by a judge during a specified amount of time.
Elopement/Waving – Nursing home patient’s freedom to walk out of a home unsupervised.
Evidence Evidence – Data to prove or establish a case.
Expert Witness A witness that contributes their knowledge in the field of study for testimony to support an argument of the other party.
fall risk assessment Assessment conducted by the nursing home’s staff to assess the risk of a resident in a nursing facility of falling.
A Federal Reform of Nursing Homes Act (OBRA) established the standard set for the nation of care as well as regulations that nursing homes have to adhere to in providing care and respecting rights of residents in nursing homes.
Federal Tort Claims Act – In the event that the careless conduct of a federal worker creates physical injuries to another death, or property damage, the person injured can seek reimbursement from the federal government in accordance with the Federal Tort Claims Act of 1946.
IDPH IDPH Illinois Department of Public Health.
Interrogatory is the writing of questions among the parties to a lawsuit to discover important details. A form of written discovery.
Jones Act – The Jones Act is a law that was passed by Congress which provides security to individuals who make up an crew on a vessel or vessel.
Lawsuit is a legal process between two people before a law court.
Liability Insurance -Insurance insurance coverage provided by a policy either the policy holder or the defendant that will compensate a person that is injured or suffers property damage due to the fault of the insurance policyholder.
Medical malpractice is the delivery of medical care by a health provider who is incompetent or fails to adhere to the accepted standards of care, and result in death or injury to a patient.
Motion is a request made from one side for to have a judge’s decision on an issue where parties can’t reach an agreement. It can be written or orally anytime during the course of the course of a litigation.
Personal injuries – Damage to the mind, body emotional state, reputation, or even emotions not personal property.
Plaintiff – The plaintiff is the person who starts an action with the defendant.
of Attorney – Power of Attorney: A legal document which gives an individual legal authority to make decisions on behalf of another’s behalf.
Product Liability: Product liability refers to the field of law governing personal injuries that concentrates on unsafe and ineffective products. The manufacturers are legally accountable for the damages and injuries due to their defective products.
Sepsis is a Blood infection caused by bacteria, often known as Septicemia.
Settlement Mediation is a process for settling disputes that is created to assist parties in reaching an agreement to avoid the need to appear in the court. Mediation is conducted by an impartial third-party mediator sits down with the sides to aid them in reaching an agreement that is mutually acceptable.
Statute of Limitations – The period in which a plaintiff is required to start a lawsuit.
Summary Judgement A judge’s ruling to settle a dispute to the benefit of one or more parties in a legal sense prior to a trial. Most often, one party seeks an order of summary judgment when there is no evidence that are in dispute between the two parties, and the other person is entitled to be judged in a legal matter.
Summons is a legal document prepared by a plaintiff, and signed by a court to inform the defendant that they’ve been accused of being sued.
Testimony Testimony is the evidence presented to a witness on oath at a deposition or trial.
Tort Negligent or wronged conduct of one party that results in the injury of another person in which case an action to recover damages could be filed.
Witness Witness – Someone who testifies in oaths during court proceedings such as depositions or depositions providing their own personal experience or an expert’s view.
Workers’ Compensation Compensation is a form of compensation for injuries sustained when doing one’s work.
The definition of wrongful death is one which is resulted from the negligence of a third party. These lawsuits are generally initiated by decendent’s families or by the decendent’s beneficiaries.