wex articles

abnormally dangerous activity

An abnormally dangerous activity is related to tort law. The Restatement of Torts defines it as an activity that (1) is not of common usage, and (2) creates a foreseeable and highly significant risk of physical harm even when reasonable care...

abortion

Abortion is the voluntary termination of a pregnancy. In 2022, nearly 50 years after Roe v. Wade changed the legal status of abortion by striking down a Texas law that criminalized abortion except as a means of saving the life of the pregnant...

abstention

The abstention doctrine is an authority that precludes federal courts from hearing cases within its jurisdictions, instead, giving state courts authority over the case. The policy behind this doctrine is rooted in federalism, and the interest...

acceleration clause

An accelerated clause is a term in a loan agreement that requires the borrower to pay off the loan immediately under certain conditions. An accelerated clause is typically invoked when the borrower materially breaches the loan agreement....

actual innocence

Actual innocence refers to a failure of proof defense arguing that the prosecution failed to prove all relevant elements of a charged crime beyond a reasonable doubt.

Unlike affirmative defenses, which all argue the...

adhesion contract

An adhesion contract, also known as a contract of adhesion, is a contract where the parties are of such disproportionate bargaining power that the party of weaker bargaining power could not have negotiated for variations in the terms of the...

adhesion contract (contract of adhesion)

An adhesion contract exists if the parties are of such disproportionate bargaining power that the party of weaker bargaining strength could not have negotiated for variations in the terms of the adhesion contract. Adhesion contracts are...

administrative law

Administrative law is the branch of law governing the creation and operation of administrative agencies. The powers granted to administrative agencies are particularly important, along with the substantive rules that such agencies make, and...

Administrative Office of the United States Courts

The Administrative Office of the United States Courts (AO) is an administrative agency that is the central support entity for the judicial branch providing a wide range of administrative, legal, financial, management, program, and information...

admiralty

Admiralty law (or maritime law) is the body of law that governs navigation and shipping. It includes substantive and procedural law.

Overview:

Topics associated with this field in legal reference works may include: shipping...

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