Law Dictionary Definitions

quia (kwI-<<schwa>> orkwee-<<schwa>>). [Latin] Hist. Because; whereas. • This term was used to point out the consideration in a conveyance. QUIA ALIMENTA LIBERIS NON DEBENTUR NISI IN SUBSIDIUM quia alimenta liberis non debentur nisi in subsidium (kwI-<<schwa>> orkwee-<< schwa>> al-i-men-t<<schwa>> lib-<<schwa>>r-is non di-ben-t<<schwa>>r nI-sI in s<<schwa>>b-sid-ee-<<schwa>>m). [Law Latin] Scots law. Because aliment (alimony) is not…

  questus est nobis (kwes-t<<schwa>>s est noh-bis), n.[Law Latin “hath complained to us”] Hist. By 1287, a writ against someone who continued a nuisance that existed before inheritance or purchase. • The former law provided recovery only against the party who had first caused the nuisance. [Blacks Law 8th]

questman.Hist. 1. An instigator of a lawsuit or prosecution. 2. A person who was chosen to inquire into abuses, esp. those relating to weights and measures. 3. A churchwarden; SIDESMAN. — Also termed questmonger. [Blacks Law 8th]

question of privilege.See QUESTION(3). [Blacks Law 8th]

  question of law. 1. An issue to be decided by the judge, concerning the application or interpretation of the law <a jury cannot decide questions of law, which are reserved for the court>.2. A question that the law itself has authoritatively answered, so that the court may not answer it as a matter of…

  question of fact. 1. An issue that has not been predetermined and authoritatively answered by the law. • An example is whether a particular criminal defendant is guilty of an offense or whether a contractor has delayed unreasonably in constructing a building. 2. An issue that does not involve what the law is on…

question-and-answer. 1. The portion of a deposition or trial transcript in which evidence is developed through a series of questions asked by the lawyer and answered by the witness. — Abbr. Q-and-A. 2. The method for developing evidence during a deposition or at trial, requiring the witness to answer the examining lawyer’s questions, without offering…

question. 1. A query directed to a witness. — Abbr. Q. [Cases: Witnesses 236. C.J.S. Witnesses § 406.] categorical question. 1.LEADING QUESTION. 2. (often pl.) One of a series of questions, on a particular subject, arranged in systematic or consecutive order. cross-question. A question asked of a witness during cross-examination. — Abbr. XQ. [Cases: Witnesses…

questa (kwes-t<<schwa>>), n.[Law Latin] Hist. A quest; an inquest or inquiry upon the oaths of an impaneled jury. [Blacks Law 8th]

querens (kweer-enz), n.[Latin fr. queri “to complain”] Hist. A plaintiff; the complaining party. [Blacks Law 8th]