- P -
Parties: Persons, corporations, or
associations, who have commenced a law suit or who
are defendants.
Personal Auto Policy: The most common auto
insurance policy sold today. Often referred to as
"PAP," this policy provides coverage for
liability, medical payments, uninsured/under insured
motorist coverage, and physical damage protection.
Personal Injury Protection: Personal
Injury Protection (PIP) usually includes benefits
for medical expenses, loss of income from work,
essential services, accidental death, funeral
expenses, and survivor benefits.
Petition: Written application to a court
requesting a remedy available under law.
Petition for review: A document filed in
the state Supreme Court asking for a review of a
decision made by the Court of Appeals.
Perjury: Making intentionally false
statements under oath. Perjury is a criminal
offense.
Physical Damage: Damage to your covered
vehicle from perils including (but not limited to)
collision or upset with another vehicle object,
fire, vandalism and theft.
Plaintiff: The party who begins an action;
the party who complains or sues in an action and is
named as such in the court's records. Also called a
petitioner.
Plea: A defendant's official statement of
"guilty" or "not guilty" to the
charge(s) made against him.
Pleadings: Formal, written allegations by
the parties of their respective claims.
Policy: The written documents of a
contract for insurance between the insurance company
and the insured. Such documents include forms,
endorsements, riders and attachments.
Polling the jury: A practice whereby the
jurors are asked individually whether they agreed,
and still agree, with the verdict.
Precedent: Previously decided case which
is recognized as an authority for determining future
cases.
Preponderance of evidence: The general
standard of proof in civil cases. The weight of
evidence presented by one side is more convincing to
the trier of facts than the evidence presented by
the opposing side.
Presiding judge: Chief or administrative
judge of a court.
Proceeding: Any hearing or court
appearance related to the adjudication of a case.
