Laches: neglecting to assert a right or claim which taken together with a lapse of time and other circumstances, causes prejudice to adverse party, thereby operating as a bar in a court of equity

Latent Defect: a defect not discoverable by the exercise of an ordinary inspection, see HIDDEN DEFECT

Law of the Case: a legal principle which states that a determination of law by a higher court is considered as correct during all subsequent hearings in the proceedings unless the question is being heard by a court higher than the court that made the ruling

Lay Witness: a witness that is testifying as a witness to a fact or an opinion as opposed to an opinion given by an expert about a matter beyond the expected comprehension of the jury

Leave of Court: a request to the court to obtain permission to do something that otherwise would not be permissible

Lex Loci Delicti: (lat.) the place where the wrong took place

Liability: responsibility or accountability for one's breach of duty owed to another

Licensee: one of the classes of persons entering upon the lands of another whereby the individual has not been invited upon the land but is tolerated

Limine: see MOTION IN LIMINE

Liquidated Damages: a sum of money agreed upon by the parties to a contract that will be paid as damages if there is a breach of the contract

Lis Pendens: (lat.) a pending suit

Long Arm Statues: statutory laws that empower a court to obtain jurisdiction over a nonresident defendant

Lord Campbell's Act: the English law that first recognized the right of the family of a decedent to bring an action for damages against the person who was responsible for the death of their family member

Lump-Sum Payment: an amount of money that is paid in one payment as opposed to a structured settlement which is paid out over a period of time in several payments