Latin for Lawyers

CONTRA LEGEM TERRAE

CONTRA LEGEM TERRAE Against the law of the land. CONTRA PACEM [L. against the public peace]

This Latin phrase was formerly used verbatim in indictments; most indict ments now recite that the defendant has committed a “crime against the pub lic peace.” CONTRA PREFERENTUM A doctrine applied to interpretation or construction of documents which pro vides that ambiguities in language are to be construed against the draftsman. CONTRIBUTE, CONTRIBUTION [L. contribuere / to put together with, to unite] To give in support of. To give aid to. To pay into a common fund or give for a public purpose. To play a significant part in. In law, to contribute means to supply one of the causes of, to help create. For example, in the event of an accident or injury resulting from negligence, liability will be assessed against all those who contributed to the occurrence. Contribution is the term applied to the right of anyone who has satisfied a liability shared by others to ask for and receive an aliquot share from those others. In this way, one joint tort fea sor is entitled to contribution from the other tort feasors. CONTRIBUTORY [L. contribuere ] To make a contribution to. To act as a part or cause of. The act of providing funds to a common fund or enterprises such as an employee benefit plan or a group health insurance plan. Participating in or causing an end or a result. Contributory fault is an act by a promisor which makes performance of his promise impossible; because he is at fault, he cannot rely on the defense of impossibility. Contributory negligence is negligence by the plaintiff which contributes to the occurrence and/or injury complained of. CONTROL [L. contra / opposite to, against + roto, rotare / to cause to turn] To exercise dominion or influence over. To regulate or impose power over. To rule or dominate. To have a dominant interest in, e.g., to have a controlling interest in a business or corporation. A controlled substance , usually a drug, is a substance the sale, use and consumption of which are regulated by law. CONTROVERSY [L. controversia, controversus / a dispute, especially a litiga tion; also, the subject of a dispute] Opposing views. A dispute. A civil action to resolve a dispute between two parties. The U.S. Constitution delegates to the courts the power to adjudicate “cases and controversies.”

66