COLLATERAL ATTACK

collateral attack.An attack on a judgment in a proceeding other than a direct appeal; esp., an attempt to undermine a judgment through a judicial proceeding in which the ground of the proceeding (or a defense in the proceeding) is that the judgment is ineffective. • A petition for a writ of habeas corpus is one type of collateral attack. — Also termed indirect attack. Cf. DIRECT ATTACK(1). [Cases: Judgment  470–523. C.J.S. Judgments §§ 499–533.] COLLATERAL-BENEFIT RULEcollateral-benefit rule.See COLLATERAL-SOURCE RULE. [Blacks Law 8th]