Invidious | Define Invidious at Dictionary.com

in·vid·i·ous

–adjective

1.

calculated to create ill will or resentment or give offense; hateful: invidious remarks.

2.

offensively or unfairly discriminating; injurious: invidious comparisons.

3.

causing or tending to cause animosity, resentment, or envy: an invidious honor.

4.

Obsolete . envious.

Origin:

1600–10; < Latin invidiōsus envious, envied, hateful, equivalent to invidi ( a ) envy + -ōsus -ous

—Related forms

in·vid·i·ous·ly, adverb

in·vid·i·ous·ness, noun

non·in·vid·i·ous, adjective

non·in·vid·i·ous·ly, adverb

non·in·vid·i·ous·ness, noun

un·in·vid·i·ous, adjective

un·in·vid·i·ous·ly, adverb

—Can be confused:  insidious,

via Invidious | Define Invidious at Dictionary.com.

The claim is invidious discrimination in contravention of the First and Fifth Amendments.

Obviate | Define Obviate at Dictionary.com

ob·vi·ate

–verb (used with object), -at·ed, -at·ing.

to anticipate and prevent or eliminate (difficulties, disadvantages, etc.) by effective measures; render unnecessary: to obviate the risk of serious injury.

Origin:

1590–1600; < Latin obviātus, past participle of obviāre to act contrary to, derivative of obvius; see obvious, -ate1

—Related forms

ob·vi·a·ble  /ˈɒbviəbəl/ Show Spelled[ob-vee-uh-buhl] Show IPA, adjective

ob·vi·a·tion, noun

ob·vi·a·tor, noun

pre·ob·vi·ate, verb (used with object), -at·ed, -at·ing.

un·ob·vi·a·ble, adjective

un·ob·vi·at·ed, adjective

—Can be confused:  ameliorate, obviate, vitiate.

—Synonyms

preclude, avert, anticipate.

via Obviate | Define Obviate at Dictionary.com.

Or she may bring a motion to dismiss, which, if granted, obviates the need for an answer.

Impunity | Define Impunity at Dictionary.com

im·pu·ni·ty

–noun

1.

exemption from punishment.

2.

immunity from detrimental effects, as of an action.

(uncountable) Freedom from punishment or retribution; security from any reprisal or injurious consequences of an action, behaviour etc. 

via Impunity | Define Impunity at Dictionary.com.

 

It would simply mean an executor would have to check at his own house before he could distribute the estate with impunity.

vested legal definition of vested. vested synonyms by the Free Online Law Dictionary.

vested adj. referring to having an absolute right or title, when previously the holder of the right or title only had an expectation. Examples: after 20 years of employment Larry Loyal’s pension rights are now vested

via vested legal definition of vested. vested synonyms by the Free Online Law Dictionary..

Sui generis – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sui generis (pronounced /ˌsuː.aɪ ˈdʒɛnərɪs/;[1] Latin: /ˈsʊ.iː ˈɡɛnɛrɪs/) is a Latin expression, literally meaning of its own kind/genus or unique in its characteristics.[2] The expression is often used in analytic philosophy to indicate an idea, an entity, or a reality which cannot be included in a wider concept.

via Sui generis – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

 

Sindell v Abbott Laboratories, California, 1980 is Sui Generis.

Histrionics | Define Histrionics at Dictionary.com

his·tri·on·ics

/ˌhɪstriˈɒnɪks/ Show Spelled[his-tree-on-iks] Show IPA

–noun ( used with a singular or plural verb )

1.

dramatic representation; theatricals; acting.

2.

behavior or speech for effect, as insincere or exaggerated expression of an emotion; dramatics; operatics: Cut out the histrionics—we know you’re not really mad.

Origin:

1860–65; see histrionic, -ics

—Can be confused:  hysterics, histrionics

via Histrionics | Define Histrionics at Dictionary.com.

Good lawyers do not whine or engage in histrionics or hissy fits.

Insolent | Define Insolent at Dictionary.com

in·so·lent

–adjective

1.

boldly rude or disrespectful; contemptuously impertinent; insulting: an insolent reply.

–noun

2.

an insolent person.

Origin:

1350–1400; ME < L insolent- (s. of insolēns ) departing from custom, equiv. to in- in-3 + sol- (s. of solēre to be accustomed) + -ent- -ent

—Related forms

in·so·lent·ly, adverb

o·ver·in·so·lent, adjective

o·ver·in·so·lent·ly, adverb

—Synonyms

1. brazen; contemptuous. See impertinent.

via Insolent | Define Insolent at Dictionary.com.

A battery is the knowing or intentional touching of one person by another in a rude, insolent, or angry manner.

Exonerates | Define Exonerates at Dictionary.com

ex·on·er·ate

–verb (used with object), -at·ed, -at·ing.

1.

to clear, as of an accusation; free from guilt or blame; exculpate: He was exonerated from the accusation of cheating.

2.

to relieve, as from an obligation, duty, or task.

Origin:

1515–25; late ME < L exonerātus (ptp. of exonerāre to unburden, discharge), equiv. to ex- ex-1 + oner- (s. of onus ) a burden + -ātus -ate1

—Related forms

ex·on·er·a·tion, noun

ex·on·er·a·tive, adjective

ex·on·er·a·tor, noun

un·ex·on·er·at·ed, adjective

un·ex·on·er·a·tive, adjective

—Can be confused:  exculpate, exonerate, inculpate.

—Synonyms

1. vindicate. See absolve. 2. release, discharge, free.

—Antonyms

1. blame.

via Exonerates | Define Exonerates at Dictionary.com.

The fact that [stored gunpowder] was liable to such a contingency, which could not be guarded against or averted by the greatest degree of care and vigilance, evinces its dangerous character. Heeg v. Licht, 80 N.Y. 579. In such a case, the rule which exonerates a party engaged in a lawful business, when free from negligence, has no application”.

Bright-line rule (or bright-line test) – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

a clearly defined rule or standard, generally used in law, composed of objective factors, which leaves little or no room for varying interpretation. The purpose of a bright-line rule is to produce predictable and consistent results in its application. This is in contrast to its opposite, the fine line.

Bright-line rules are usually standards established by courts in legal precedent or by legislatures in statutory provisions. Bright-line rules are often contrasted with balancing tests, where a result is dependent on weighing several factors, which could lead to inconsistent application of law or reduce objectivity.

via Bright-line rule – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Commutation | Define Commutation at Dictionary.com

com·mu·ta·tion

–noun

1.

the act of substituting one thing for another; substitution; exchange.

2.

the changing of a prison sentence or other penalty to another less severe.

3.

the act of commuting, as to and from a place of work.

4.

the substitution of one kind of payment for another.

5.

Electricity. the act or process of commutating.

6.

Also called commutation test. Linguistics. the technique, esp. in phonological analysis, of substituting one linguistic item for another while keeping the surroundingelements constant, used as a means of determining the constituent units in a sequence and their contrasts with other units.

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Origin:

1400–50; late ME commutacioun < L commūtātiōn- (s. of commutātiō) change. See commute, -ation

—Related forms

pro·com·mu·ta·tion, adjective

via Commutation | Define Commutation at Dictionary.com.

The executives, including Google’s chief legal officer and senior vice president, David Drummond, will not serve prison time because of Italian rules calling for the commutation of short prison sentences for first-time offenders, according to the Wall Street Journal and CNN.