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Service: Delivery of a legal document to
the opposite party.
Set aside: Annul or void as in
"setting aside" a judgment.
Settlement: Conclusion of a legal matter.
Settlement conference: A meeting between
parties of a lawsuit, their counsel and a judge to
attempt a resolution of the dispute without trial.
Statute: A law created by the Legislature.
Statute of limitations: Law which
specifies the time within which parties must take
judicial action to enforce their rights.
Stay: Halting of a judicial proceeding by
order of the court.
Stipulation: Agreement by the attorneys or
parties on opposite sides of a case regarding any
matter in the trial proceedings.
Subpoena: Document issued by the authority
of the court to compel a witness to appear and give
testimony or produce documentary evidence in a
proceeding. Failure to appear or produce is
punishable by contempt of court.
Subpoena duces tecum: "Under penalty
you shall take it with you." A process by which
the court commands a witness to produce specific
documents or records in a trial.
Suit: Any court proceeding in which an
individual seeks a decision.
Summons: Document or writ directing the
sheriff or other officer to notify a person that an
action has been commenced against him in court and
that he is required to appear, on a certain day, and
answer the complaint in such action.
