Respondent
1. The person who answers a petition or is sued in a special proceeding. 2. The person who an appeal or a motion is made against. The respondent is the defendant in a case.
Restitution
Putting someone or something back the way it was before a loss, injury, or some other damage. This can be done by fixing something or by giving the equal value in money.
Restore
1. To bring a case back to court by putting it on the calendar. 2. To return something to its original condition.
Restraining order
A court order that tells a person to stop doing something for a certain amount of time, usually until a court hearing is held.
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Retaliatory eviction
A defense where the tenant says that the real reason for a landlord’s act, like raising the rent, is to evict or punish the tenant, because the tenant has asked for his or her rights.
Revenue
The money received by a company, agency, or government.
Reverse
When an appellate (higher) court changes the decision of a trial (lower) court.
Review and adjustment
When current financial information is taken from both parties in a child support case by a IV-D agency and used to decide if a support order needs to be changed.
Revocation
The act of taking away or canceling something, like probation or a driver's license.
Rider
A written addition to a contract to change the terms or add new terms.
Right of redemption period
The time when a borrower can stop foreclosure by selling the property, or paying off the loan, etc. In New York State this period ends when the property is sold at auction.
Robbery
The illegal taking of property off of or in front another by violence or intimidation.
Sanction
1. A penalty or punishment to try to make someone obey the law. 2. Approval or authorization.
Satisfaction
The payment of a judgment amount (money) by the losing party.
Satisfaction of Judgment
A statement from the judgment creditor filed with the court saying that the judgment has been fully paid.
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Seal
1. Impression or stamp that has official meaning when put on to a document. 2. To close a case file from the public. The file can’t be seen without a court order.
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Search warrant
An order telling law enforcement officers to search a specific place for specific persons or things and to bring them to the court.
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Second violent felony offender
A person convicted of a violent felony (other than a class A1 felony) after having being previously convicted of 1 or more felonies in the past ten years.
Security deposit
The money given to the landlord when a person first moves in to hold in case there is damage to the property. When a tenant moves out, if there is no damage to the property, the landlord must return this money to the tenant.
Security for costs
The money, property or a bond given to a court by a plaintiff or an appellant to cover the other side’s costs if they lose.
Seizure
The taking of property by a sheriff or marshal when a judgment has not been paid.
Self defense
The right of a person to protect themself or their property from harm.
Self-represented litigant
A person who comes to court without attorney. Also called a pro se party or unrepresented litigant.
Self-surrender
When a person turns themself in to jail, police, or the court.
Sentence
1. A Judge's formal statement about the punishment to be given to a person convicted of a crime. 2. The amount of time a person must serve for a crime.