Law Dictionary Definitions

formulary. 1.Hist. A collection of the forms of proceedings (formulae) used in litigation, such as the writ forms kept by the Chancery. See WRIT SYSTEM. 2. A list of drugs that Medicare or a health-maintenance organization will pay for.[Blacks Law 8th]

Form S-1.See S-1.[Blacks Law 8th]

form of action.The common-law legal and procedural device associated with a particular writ, each of which had specific forms of process, pleading, trial, and judgment. • The 11 common-law forms of action were trespass, trespass on the case, trover, ejectment, detinue, replevin, debt, covenant, account, special assumpsit, and general assumpsit. [Cases: Action 29; Federal Civil…

former punishment.Military law. The rule that nonjudicial punishment for a minor offense may bar trial by court-martial for the same offense.[Blacks Law 8th]

former jeopardy.The fact of having previously been prosecuted for the same offense. • A defendant enters a plea of former jeopardy to inform the court that a second prosecution is improper. Cf. DOUBLE JEOPARDY. [Cases: Double Jeopardy 132.1.][Blacks Law 8th]

former adjudication.A judgment in a prior action that resulted in a final determination of the rights of the parties or essential fact questions and serves to bar relitigation of the issues relevant to that determination. • Collateral estoppel and res judicata are the two types of former adjudication. See COLLATERAL ESTOPPEL; RES JUDICATA. [Cases: Judgment…

former acquittal.See autrefois acquit under AUTREFOIS.[Blacks Law 8th]

formedon (for-m<<schwa>>-don). [fr. Latin forma doni “form of the gift”] Hist. A writ of right for claiming entailed property held by another. • A writ of formedon was the highest remedy available to a tenant in tail. — Also termed writ of formedon. [Cases: Real Actions 4.] “Called formedon, because the writ comprehended the form…

formed design.See DESIGN.[Blacks Law 8th]

formbook. A book that contains sample legal documents, esp. transaction-related documents such as contracts, deeds, leases, wills, trusts, and securities disclosure documents.[Blacks Law 8th]