Demurrer - Law Dictionary Search Results
Home Dictionary Name: demurrerdemurrer
demurrer [Anglo-French, from demurrer to file a demurrer, literally, to stay, dwell, delay, from Old French demorer, from Latin demorari to delay] : a plea in response to an allegation (as in a complaint or indictment) that admits its truth but also asserts that it is not sufficient as a cause of action compare confession and avoidance NOTE: Demurrers are no longer used in federal civil or criminal procedure but are still used in some states. General demurrers are replaced in the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure by motions to dismiss for failure to state a claim on which relief may be granted. Special demurrers are replaced by motions for more definite statement. In the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, a motion to dismiss or to grant appropriate relief takes the place of a demurrer. Demurrers are sometimes used to question a court's jurisdiction. demurrer to the evidence : a demurrer that asserts that the evidence is not sufficient to create a question of fact for the jury to...
Demurrer
Demurrer [fr. demoror, Lat.; or demorrer, Fr., to wait or stay], a pleading which admits the facts as stated in the pleading of the opponent, and referring the law arising thereon to the judgment of the Court, waits until by such judgment the Court decides whether he is bound to answer. 'The office of a demurrer is simply to state that the plaintiff has not made a sufficient case to entitle him to relief in equity', Wood v. Midgley, (1854) 5 De GM&G 44, per Turner, L.J.In civil matters this mode of pleading is abolished by R.S. C. 1883, Ord. XXV., r. 1, but subsequent rules of the same Order allow points of law raised on the pleading of any party to be disposed of before trial by order of the Court or a judge, and pleadings to be struck out if they disclose no reasonable cause of action.In criminal prosecutions a demurrer may be resorted to, when the fact as alleged is allowed to be true, but the defendant takes exception in point of law to the sufficient of the indictment or informati...
Speaking demurrer
Speaking demurrer, one in which new facts, which did not appear upon the face of a bill in equity, were introduced to support a demurrer. See 1 Dan. Ch. Pr., 5th Edn. 538. See now DEMURRER....
demurrer to the evidence
demurrer to the evidence see demurrer ...
general demurrer
general demurrer see demurrer ...
special demurrer
special demurrer see demurrer ...
Special demurrer
Special demurrer, a demurrer for some defect in the form o the opposite party's pleading. Abolished by C.L.P. Act, 1852, s. 51....
Parol demurrer
Parol demurrer, abolished by 11 Geo. 4 & 1 Wm. 4, c. 74, s. 10....
Defence
Defence [fr. defensio, Lat.], popularly a justification, protection, or guard; in law, a denial by the defendant of the truth or validity of the plaintiff's complaint.In Civil matters, a defence (which is always in writing or printed) is either (1) by statement of defence, which may be a denial of the plaintiff's right, or may be an allegation of a set-off or counterclaim by the defendant which will cover wholly or in part the claim of the plaintiff; or (2) by a statement of defence raising a point of law, so as to show that the facts alleged by the plaintiff do not disclose any cause of action to which effect can be given by the Court; see R.S.C., Ord. XXV., sub-stituted for the old 'demurrer.' See STATEMENT OF DEFENCE DEMURRER.In certain cases, e.g., where the plaintiff's claim is for a liquidated sum only, he may specially indorse his writ, and in such case leave must be obtained to defend (R.S.C. 1883, Ord. III., R. 6; Ord. XIV.).In Criminal matters (which is always by word of mout...
confession and avoidance
confession and avoidance : a common-law plea in which a party confesses an allegation but alleges additional facts to avoid the intended legal effect of the original allegation compare demurrer ...
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