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A
B C
D E
F G
H I
J K L
M N
O P
Q R
S T
U V
W X Y Z #
Click on the first letter of the
word from the list above to go to the appropriate
section of the glossary.
- J -
Joint and Several Liability: Refers to a
plaintiff's ability to sue one or more defendants
separately or all together at his or her option.
Permits a group of defendants to be held both
individually and collectively liable for all damages
suffered by the plaintiff. The plaintiff can recover
the entire amount of damages from one defendant, even
if all of the defendants are liable. For incidents
arising after August 17, 2002: Due to a new
Pennsylvania law, joint and several liability has been
changed so that a plaintiff may no longer be able to
collect all his damages from one defendant, even if
more than one defendant is found responsible. A
percentage of fault will be assessed against each
defendant and, unless a defendant's negligence is 60%
or greater, an at fault defendant will be responsible
for only its percentage of fault.
Joint Tenancy: A form of legal co-ownership of
property (also known as survivorship). At the death of
one co-owner, the surviving co-owner becomes sole
owner of the property. Tenancy by the entirety is a
special form of joint tenancy between a husband and
wife.
Judge: Workers' compensation judges are appointed
and are representatives of the Pennsylvania Department
of Labor and Industry. They conduct hearings in an
administrative proceeding for workers' compensation
cases.
Judgment: Official decision of a court resolving
the issues in a legal action and stating the rights
and obligations of the parties. See also decree,
order.
Judgment Notwithstanding the Verdict (n.o.v.): An
order by the trial judge entering a judgment in a
manner contradictory to the jury's verdict. This is
granted only when the verdict is unreasonable and
unsupportable.
Judicial: Pertaining to a judge.
Judicial Notice: The procedure by which a judge
recognizes the existence of the truth of a certain
fact having bearing on the case without the production
of evidence because such fact is established by common
notoriety. For example, if the accident happened on
Thanksgiving, the judge can take judicial notice that
the accident happened on a Thursday.
Judicial Review: The authority of a court to review
the official actions of other branches of government.
Also, the authority to declare unconstitutional the
actions of other branches.
Jurisdiction: The legal right by which judges
exercise their authority.
Jurisprudence: The study of law and the structure
of the legal system.
Jury: Persons selected according to law and sworn
to inquire into and declare a verdict on matters of
fact. A petit jury is an ordinary or trial jury,
composed of six to 12 persons, which hears either
civil or criminal cases.
Jury Commissioner: The court officer responsible
for choosing the panel of persons to serve as
potential jurors for a particular court term.
Justiciable: Issues and claims capable of being
properly examined in court.
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