Latin for Lawyers

INVOCATION

INVOCATION [L. in + voco, vocare / to call, summon] The act of beseeching help or support, as a prayer for help at the beginning of a religious service. The act of implementing or enforcing a legal claim or right, as the invocation of the provisions of a treaty or of a contract. INVOKE [L. in + voco, vocare / to call, summon] To call upon for help or support. To petition or appeal to. To cite as authority for a decision. To put into legal effect or urge the observance of, as to invoke a statute or a Constitutional provision. To place in operation, as to invoke economic sanctions. INVOLUNTARY [L. in / not + voluntarius / voluntary, of free will] Action or effect forced upon an individual against his will. Done or commit ted without choice or desire. An involuntary confession is a confession which is coerced or induced through fear or fraud. Involuntary manslaughter is an unintended killing resulting from wanton and reckless conduct by the defen dant or an unreasonable disregard for the probable consequences of his con duct. An involuntary bankruptcy is a proceeding in the bankruptcy court initiated not by a voluntary petition of the debtor but by a petition of his cred itors. IPSE DIXIT [L. ipse / I, myself, he, himself + dicere / to say, speak] Literally, he himself said it; he was the source. A statement without any authority or precedent except the statement itself. A bald, unproved state ment. Sometimes used in place of dictum . See DICTUM IPSISSIMIS VERBIS [L. ipse / that very thing + verbum / a word] In those very words. In those exact words. IPSO FACTO [L. ipse / self + factum / fact] By that very fact itself; in and of itself; the inevitable result. The end of a marriage results ipso facto from a decree of divorce. See FACTO IPSO FACTO CLAUSE A clause in a contract invoking the remedies of a party upon the bankruptcy or insolvency of the other party, such as the right to accelerate performance or to cancel the contract. Ipso facto clauses are invalid under the Bankruptcy Code because they inhibit the performance of duties by the trustee in bank ruptcy.

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