Law Dictionary Definitions

reasonable-development covenant.Oil & gas. The implied promise in an oil-and-gas lease that once production is obtained the lessee will continue to develop the property as would a reasonably prudent operator, as opposed to merely holding the lease by the production already obtained. See FURTHER-EXPLORATION COVENANT T. [Blacks Law 8th]

reasonable-consumer test.The prevailing test for determining whether advertisement is deceptive, determined by asking whether the reasonable consumer would believe that the claim is true. Cf. FOOL’S TEST. [Blacks Law 8th]

reasonable cause.See PROBABLE CAUSE. [Blacks Law 8th]

reasonable care.See CARE. [Blacks Law 8th]

reasonable-apprehension test.Patents. A judicial analysis to decide whether there is a justiciable controversy between a patentee and an alleged infringer. • The test has two elements: (1) the patentee must make an explicit threat or take other action that makes another person reasonably believe that an infringement suit is likely, and (2) the other person…

reasonable accommodation. 1. An action taken to adapt or adjust for a disabled person, done in a way that does not impose an undue hardship on the party taking the action. • Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, an employer must make reasonable accommodations for an employee’s disability. Examples of reasonable accommodations that have been…

reasonable,adj.1. Fair, proper, or moderate under the circumstances < reasonable pay>.2. According to reason <your argument is reasonable but not convincing>. “It is extremely difficult to state what lawyers mean when they speak of ‘reasonableness.’ In part the expression refers to ordinary ideas of natural law or natural justice, in part to logical thought, working…

rearrest. See ARREST. [Blacks Law 8th]

reargument,n. The presentation of additional arguments, which often suggest that a controlling legal principle has been overlooked, to a court (usu. an appellate court) that has already heard initial arguments. Cf. REHEARING. [Cases: Federal Civil Procedure 928; Motions 39. C.J.S. Motions and Orders §§ 39–40.] — reargue,vb. [Blacks Law 8th]

reapportionment,n. Realignment of a legislative district’s boundaries to reflect changes in population. • The U.S. Supreme Court has required federal reapportionment. See U.S. Const. art. I, 2, cl. 3. — Also termed redistricting. Cf. GERRYMANDERING. [Cases: Elections 12(6); States 27. C.J.S. States §§ 62–78.] — reapportion,vb. [Blacks Law 8th]