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retreat rule.Criminal law. The doctrine holding that the victim of a murderous assault must choose a safe retreat instead of resorting to deadly force in self-defense, unless (1) the victim is at home or in his or her place of business (the so-called castle doctrine), or (2) the assailant is a person whom the victim…

retraxit (ri-trak-sit). [Latin “he has withdrawn”] A plaintiff’s voluntary withdrawal of a lawsuit in court so that the plaintiff forever forfeits the right of action. • In modern practice, retraxit is called voluntary dismissal with prejudice. A dismissal without prejudice does not operate as a retraxit. See judgment of retraxit under JUDGMENT. [Blacks Law 8th]

retractus feudalis (ri-trak-t<<schwa>>s fyoo-day-lis). [Law Latin “a recall of the fee”] Scots law. A superior’s right to pay a debt of a vassal’s lands in exchange for the return of the conveyance. [Blacks Law 8th]

retraction,n.1. The act of taking or drawing back <retraction of anticipatory repudiation before breach of contract>.2. The act of recanting; a statement in recantation <retraction of a defamatory remark>. [Cases: Libel and Slander 66. C.J.S. Libel and Slander; Injurious Falsehood§ 195.] 3.Wills & estates. A withdrawal of a renunciation <because of her retraction, she took…

retorsion (ri-tor-sh<<schwa>>n).Int’l law. An act of lawful retaliation in kind for another nation’s unfriendly or unfair act. • Examples of retorsion include suspending diplomatic relations, expelling foreign nationals, and restricting travel rights. — Also spelled retortion. Cf. REPRISAL(2). [Blacks Law 8th]

retorno habendo.See DE RETORNO HABENDO. [Blacks Law 8th]

retorna brevium (ri-tor-n<<schwa>> bree-vee-<<schwa>>m). [Law Latin] Hist. The return of a writ. • This was the indorsement on a writ by a sheriff or other officer, reporting on the writ’s execution. [Blacks Law 8th]

retirement plan.See EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN. [Blacks Law 8th]

retirement-income insurance.See INSURANCE. [Blacks Law 8th]

Retirement Equity Act of 1984.A federal law that requires private pension plans to comply with the court-ordered division of a pension between spouses and permits the plan administrator to pay all or part of a worker’s pensions and survivor benefits directly to a former spouse if the plan has been served with a court order…