Latin for Lawyers

L ATIN FOR L AWYERS

tract, while the latter is normally based on an hourly rate for hours actually worked. SALUS POPULI EST SUPREMA LEX The welfare of the people is the paramount law. This is an ancient Roman maxim which is still the fundamental concept controlling all democratic thought and institutions. SALVAGE [L. salvus / safe] Property saved or rescued from imminent threat or danger, as in a wreck or fire. Anything retained from discarded property. In maritime law, the rescue of a ship or its cargo; also the compensation paid for the act of saving a ship or its cargo from the perils of the sea. Salvage loss is the marine insurance term defining the difference between the value of property insured against loss and the value of property salvaged by the owner. A salvage lien is the lien of persons who have salvaged a ship or cargo. The lien attaches to the property saved to secure payment of their fees. SAMARITAN [Late L. samaritanus / a resident of samaria , a person perform ing good deeds (from the Greek)] See GOOD SAMARITAN SAMPLE [L. exemplum / something picked from a number of things; a sam pling] One representative item picked from a group of essentially similar things to establish the character or quality of the items in the group. The defined part of a statistical whole measured and studied to establish data about the whole. SANAE MENTIS [L. sanus / sound, healthy + mens , mentis / the mind, under standing, reason] Of sound and healthy mind. SANCTION [L. sancio , sancire / to make sacred, consecrate] To make valid or binding; to approve of. To give effect to, as in “that conduct was sanctioned by a law passed by Congress.” Also, a formal decree or oath. The destruction or seizure of property. Also, a detriment or penalty imposed for violation of a statute or regulation. The imposition of a penalty or fine. In international law, coercive economic or military action taken by one or sev eral nations to compel a change in conduct by another nation, as the sanctions imposed by the U.S. on Cuba or Iraq. Sanctions may take the form of block ades, embargoes, the blocking of bank accounts, etc.

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