Law Dictionary Definitions

antilapse  statute.Wills  &  estates.  A  statute  that  substitutes  certain  heirs  of  some  types  of testamentary benefi-ciaries when the beneficiary has predeceased the testator and permits them to take the gift, which would otherwise fail and thus pass to the residuary beneficiary (if any) or to the intestate heirs. • Under the common law and the…

anti-john law.A criminal-law statute punishing prostitutes’ customers. [Cases: Prostitution    1. C.J.S. Pros-titution and Related Offenses §§ 2–4, 8–13, 17, 21–24.] [Blacks Law 8th]

Anti-Injunction Act.A federal statute providing that a federal court may not enjoin state-court proceedings  unless  an  injunction  is  (1)  expressly  authorized  by  Congress,  (2)  necessary  for  the federal court’s in rem jurisdiction, or (3) necessary to prevent relitigation of a judgment rendered by the federal court. 28 USCA § 2283. See NORRIS–LA GUARDIA ACT. [Cases:…

anti-heartbalm statute.See HEARTBALM STATUTE. [Blacks Law 8th]

antihazing  statute.A  (usu.  criminal)  law  that  prohibits  an  organization  or  members  of  an organization from requiring a prospective member, as a condition of membership, to do or submit to any act that presents a sub-stantial risk of physical or mental harm. • In 1874 Congress passed the first antihazing statute, directed at stopping hazing by…

antigraphus   (an-tig-r<<schwa>>-f<<schwa>>s),   n.[Law   Latin]   Hist.   An   officer   who maintains tax revenues; a comptroller. [Blacks Law 8th]

antifraud rule.See RULE10b-5. [Blacks Law 8th]

anti-evolution  statute.Hist.  A  law  that  forbids  the  teaching  of  the  theory  of  evolution  in schools.  •  Such  statutes  were  held  unconstitutional  as  violative  of  the  Establishment  Clause  in Epperson  v.  Arkansas,  393  U.S. 97,  89  S.Ct. 266  (1968).  —  Also  termed  evolution  statute.  See CREATIONISM. [Blacks Law 8th]

antidumping tariff.See TARIFF(2). [Blacks Law 8th]

antidilution act.Trademarks. A statute  prohibiting actions that are likely  to  lessen,  diminish, or erode a famous mark’s capacity to identify and distinguish goods and services, without regard to  whether  the  action  creates  a  likelihood  of  confusion,  mistake,  or  deception.  •  The  Federal Trademark Dilution Act provides relief against another’s commercial use of a mark or…