Latin for Lawyers

L ATIN FOR L AWYERS

MAINTENANCE CURIALIS [L. manus + tenere + curia / the senate build ing in Rome; a central place; a courthouse] To commit maintenance in direct support of a litigation before the courts. To meddle in, encourage or finance the conduct of a litigation in progress. See MAINTENANCE MAJOR [L. magnus, maior, maximus / great, large] Greater in rank or importance. Greater in quality or quantity. Important, con sequential. Also, a person of full legal age; a person who has reached the age at which he is considered competent to manage his own affairs. A major dis pute under the Railway Labor Act is a dispute relating to formation of a col lective bargaining unit or the negotiation and execution of a collective bargaining agreement. MAJORITARIAN [L. maior / great, large] A person who believes in majoritarianism, the principle that all decisions affecting a group should be made by a majority of the group. MAJORITY [L. magnus, maior / great, greater] The age at which a person becomes fully responsible for his own acts and becomes entitled to the rights of adulthood; e.g., the right to vote, the right to contract. The age of emancipation. Also, a number greater than half of a group of constituent numbers, as a majority of voters or a majority of Con gress. A majority opinion is the opinion of more than half of the judges hear ing a matter and represents the official opinion of the court. MALA [L. malus, peior, pessimus / bad, evil] Bad, evil, wicked; improper. MALA FIDES [L. mala+ fides / trust, reliance, faith] Bad faith, in bad faith. With evil intent. The opposite of bona fides . See BONA FIDES; FIDES MALA IN SE See MALUM IN SE MALA MENS [L. mala / bad, evil + mens / mind, reason, intellect] An evil mind. A mind motivated by bad intentions. MALA PRAXIS Professional malpractice. Lack of skill in the practice of a profession. Usu ally, but not always, applied to medical practitioners and their associates, the term denotes neglect or lack of reasonable skill in treatment or advice to a patient or client.

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