Latin for Lawyers

L ATIN FOR L AWYERS

LABOR [L. laboro, laborare / to work, toil, strive] The application of human effort and activity to the production of goods and services. As generally used, labor is work for compensation as opposed to investment of time or money for profit. The work can be manual or mental or involve the use of tools or machinery. LABOR CONTRACT The agreement between an employer and his employees which deals with the terms of employment and with working practices and conditions, including wages, hours, vacations, fringe benefits and grievances. LABOR DISPUTE A controversy, dispute or disagreement between an employer and his employees, usually dealing with the terms and conditions of employment, or concerning the right of the workers to organize in a labor union. LABOR UNION An organization of workers of a common employer to secure through group action the most favorable conditions and terms of employment; e.g., higher wages, shorter hours, better working conditions, fringe benefits, etc. LACHES [L. laxare / to loosen, extend, enlarge] Failure or neglect to assert a right or privilege in a timely way, resulting in prejudice or injury to others. The concept of laches is an equitable concept designed to protect against those who fail to assert their rights over an unrea sonably long period of time. The person guilty of laches is estopped from asserting his legal rights because his delay has worked to the disadvantage of other parties. LAPSE [L. lapsus / a downward movement, a fall; an error] The loss of a legal right or privilege by virtue of the failure to exercise it within a requisite period of time, or because of the failure of a condition or contingency. An insurance policy lapses if the premium is not paid by the requisite date. A testamentary gift lapses if the legatee dies before the testa tor, in the absence of a statute to the contrary.

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