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pretrial conference. An informal meeting at which opposing attorneys confer, usu. with the judge, to work toward the disposition of the case by discussing matters of evidence and narrowing the issues that will be tried. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 16; Fed. R. Crim. P. 17.1. • The conference takes place shortly before trial and…

pretorial court (pri-tor-ee-<<schwa>>l). See COURT. [Blacks Law 8th]

pretium (pree-shee-<<schwa>>m). [Latin] Price; value; worth. pretium affectionis (pree-shee-<<schwa>>m <<schwa>>-fek-shee-oh-nis). An enhanced value placed on a thing by the fancy of its owner, growing out of an attachment for the specific article and its associations; sentimental value. • This value is not taken as a basis for measuring damages. pretium periculi (pree-shee-<<schwa>>m p<<schwa>>-rik-y<<schwa>>-lI). The price…

pretextus (pree-teks-t<<schwa>>s). [Latin] A pretext. [Blacks Law 8th]

pretextual arrest. See ARREST. [Blacks Law 8th]

pretext (pree-tekst), n. A false or weak reason or motive advanced to hide the actual or strong reason or motive. [Cases: Civil Rights 1137.C.J.S. Civil Rights §§ 34, 39–40.] — pretextual (pree-teks-choo-<< schwa>>l), adj. [Blacks Law 8th]

pretermitted spouse. See pretermitted heir under HEIR. [Blacks Law 8th]

pretermitted-heir statute. A state law that, under certain circumstances, grants an omitted heir the right to inherit a share of the testator’s estate, usu. by treating the heir as though the testator had died intestate. • Most states have a pretermitted-heir statute, under which an omitted child or spouse receives the same share of the…

pretermitted heir. See HEIR. [Blacks Law 8th]

pretermitted defense. See DEFENSE(1). [Blacks Law 8th]