Latin for Lawyers

UNIFORM

ligence. Most states have laws which provide for indemnification of persons injured or killed by underinsured motorists. See UNINSURED UNIFORM [L. unus , uni / one + formo , formare / to form, shape] Consistent. Possessed of unchanging or undeviating form, manner or degree. Unvarying. Constant. Similar in all essential respects. Legislators and law yers are engaged in a constant and dedicated effort to achieve uniformity in the definition, construction, interpretation and application of the law. In this effort, they devise and advocate Uniform Laws and Uniform Codes. These uniform statutes are the work of the Commissioners on Uniform State Laws. The Commissioners codify and promote certainty in the law, and their pro posals are often adopted by the states. In this way, we now have the Uniform Commercial Code, the Uniform Controlled Substances Act, the Uniform Divorce Recognition Act, the Uniform Penal Code, the Uniform Simulta neous Death Act, etc. UNIFY, UNIFIED [L. unus, uni / one + facio, facere / to make, do] One-sided. An act done by one person or one party to a transaction. Concern ing one side of a subject. Requiring the act of one party to a contract. An offer made by one party to another. A unilateral contract is an offer or promise by one party to pay money or perform an act in return for an act or performance by the other party. The offeree has the option whether or not to act or per form. Example: A says to B, “I will pay you $1,000 if you paint my house.” A has made a unilateral promise to pay B upon completion of the work. B does not have to perform, but if he does, A must pay him $1,000. A unilateral mistake is a mistake by one party to a contract. To obtain rescision of the con tract, the party claiming the mistake must prove: that the mistake was with respect to a basic assumption on which the contract was premised; that the mistake had a material effect on the agreed exchange of performance; that he did not bear “the risk of the mistake;” and, that enforcement of the contract would be unconscionable, or that the other party knew or had reason to know of the mistake or that the fault of the other party caused the mistake. UNINSURED To be without insurance to cover a specific loss. In most instances, the failure of an individual to cover a loss or risk adequately is a matter of concern only to him. However, in the case of uninsured motorists , the lack of adequate lia bility insurance may result in unreimbursed damages to persons who are injured or killed by the negligence of the motorist. To provide against this, the To bring together as one. To make into a coherent whole. UNILATERAL [L. unis, uni + latus / side, flank, border]

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