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Action:
Proceeding taken in a court of law. Synonymous with
case, suit, lawsuit.
Additional
Insured: A person other than the named insured
or covered person who is protected under the named
insured’s auto policy.
Adjudication:
A judgment or decree.
Adversary
system: Basic U.S. trial system in which each of
the opposing parties has opportunity to state his
viewpoints before the court. Plaintiff argues for
defendant's guilt (criminal) or liability (civil).
Defense argues for defendant's innocence (criminal)
or against liability (civil).
Affidavit:
A written declaration under oath
Affirm:
The assertion of an appellate court that the
judgment of the lower court is correct and should
stand.
Allegation:
A declaration of a party to an action made in a
pleading, stating what he expects to prove.
Alleged:
Stated; recited; claimed; asserted; charged.
Answer:
A formal response to a claim, admitting or denying
the allegations in the claim.
Anti-Theft
Device: Devices designed to reduce the chance an
auto will be vandalized or stolen, or assist in its
recovery. Includes car alarms, keyless entry,
starter disablers, motion detectors, parts of the
vehicle etched with the Vehicle Identification
Number, and recovery systems.
Appeal:
Review of a case by a higher court.
Appearance:
The formal proceeding by which a defendant submits
to the jurisdiction of the court.
Arbitration:
The hearing and settlement of a dispute between
opposing parties by a third party whose decision the
parties have agreed to accept.
Assigned
Risk: A risk not ordinarily acceptable to
insurers which is, according to state law, assigned
to insurers participating in a plan in which the
insurers agree to accept their share of these risks.
At
issue: The time in a lawsuit when the
complaining party has stated his claim and the other
side has responded with denial and the matter is
ready to be tried.
Automobile
Insurance: A form of insurance that protects
against losses involving autos. Examples of coverage
types include: bodily injury liability, property
damage liability, medical payments, and collision
and comprehensive coverage for physical damage to
the insured's vehicle.
