Law Dictionary Definitions

file wrapper.Patents & trademarks. The complete record of proceedings in the Patent and Trademark Office from the initial application to the issued patent or registered trademark; specif., a patent or trademark application together with all documentation, correspondence, and any other record of proceedings before the PTO concerning that application. — Also termed file history; prosecution…

filed-rate doctrine.A common-law rule forbidding a regulated entity, usu. a common carrier, to charge a rate other than the one on file with the appropriate federal regulatory authority, such as (formerly) the Interstate Commerce Commission. — Also termed filed-tariff doctrine. See TARIFF (3). [Cases: Carriers 189; Public Utilities 119.1. C.J.S. Aeronautics and Aerospace § 231;…

file history.See FILE WRAPPER.[Blacks Law 8th]

  file,n.1. A court’s complete and official record of a case <the associate went to the courthouse to verify that the motion is in the file>.2. A lawyer’s complete record of a case <the paralegal stored the file in three drawers in her office>.3. A portion or section of a lawyer’s case record < the…

file-transfer protocol.A set of programmed rules enabling computers to exchange files over the Internet. — Abbr. FTP.— Also termed file-transport protocol.[Blacks Law 8th]

filare (fi-lair-ee), vb. [Law Latin] Hist. To file.[Blacks Law 8th]

filacium. See FILUM.[Blacks Law 8th]

filacer (fil-<<schwa>>-s<<schwa>>r).Hist. An officer of the Westminster superior courts who filed the writs on which process was made. • The office was abolished in 1837. — Also spelled filazer.[Blacks Law 8th]

fightwite (fIt-wIt).Hist. A fine imposed against one who participated in a breach of the peace.[Blacks Law 8th]

50-percent rule.The principle that liability for negligence is apportioned in accordance with the percentage of fault that the fact-finder assigns to each party, that the plaintiff’s recovery will be reduced by the percentage of negligence assigned to the plaintiff, and that the plaintiff’s recovery is barred if the plaintiff’s percentage of fault is 50% or…