Wagner Act
A 1935 American federal statute which recognized employee rights to collective bargaining, protected the right to belong to a union, prohibited many anti-union tactics then used by employers, and set up the National Labor Relations Board. Read the full definition of Wagner Act on Duhaime.org
Waiver
An intentional relinquishment or abandonment of a known right or privilege. Read the full definition of Waiver on Duhaime.org
Waiver By Conduct
The abandonment of a right implied from a person's conduct. Read the full definition of Waiver By Conduct on Duhaime.org
Want of Prosecution
An application to a judge to dismiss a law suit alleging that the litigant has inexcusably delayed moving the litigation along and that under the circumstances, the litigation ought to be dismissed. Read the full definition of Want of Prosecution on Duhaime.org
War Crimes
Excessive brutality during war, in contravention of an international treaty or convention. Read the full definition of War Crimes on Duhaime.org
Warranty
A guarantee given on the performance of a product or the doing of a certain thing. Read the full definition of Warranty on Duhaime.org
Waste
The abuse, destruction or permanent change to property by one who is merely in possesion of it as in the case of a tenant or a life tenant. Read the full definition of Waste on Duhaime.org
Waterboarding
A criminal investigation interrogation technique whereby a person suspected of having or withholding relevant information is blindfolded and bound on their back, sometimes with the fact covered with porous or nonporous material, and subjected to water poured over their mouth and nose such as to simulate drowning and to thus, under duress, elicit information. Read the full definition of Waterboarding on Duhaime.org
Wedivock
Being married. Read the full definition of Wedivock on Duhaime.org
Welsh Mortgage
A unique, now archaic species of common law mortgages where a person collects rents or profits in regards to specified real property, until the loan and any interest, is paid off. Read the full definition of Welsh Mortgage on Duhaime.org
Wergeld
A fine set for injury or death of certain animals or person and upon which, the perpetrator was required to pay to the family of the deceased. Also spelled wergild. Read the full definition of Wergeld on Duhaime.org
Wild Horse Annie Act
A 1959 American law that sought to restrict the use of motorized vehicles by cowboys rounding-up wild horses on public land. Read the full definition of Wild Horse Annie Act on Duhaime.org
Will
A written statement, usually signed, made by an individual, which directs the distribution of their property when they die. Read the full definition of Will on Duhaime.org
Wire-tapping
An electronic surveillance device which secretly listens in and records conversations held over a phone line. Read the full definition of Wire-tapping on Duhaime.org
Witchcraft
According to law books of the Mipive Ages, the act of invoking evil spirits or consulting, covenanting with, entertaining, employing, feeding, or rewarding any evil spirit. Read the full definition of Witchcraft on Duhaime.org
Without Prejudice
A reservation made on a statement or an offer that it is not an admission or cannot otherwise be used against the issuing party in future dealings or litigation with any determinative legal effect. Read the full definition of Without Prejudice on Duhaime.org
With Prejudice
A statement or order that is conclusive between the parties as to the dispute between them. Read the full definition of With Prejudice on Duhaime.org
Witness
A person who perceives an event (by seeing, hearing, smelling or other sensory perception). Read the full definition of Witness on Duhaime.org
Words of limitation
Words in a conveyance or in a will which set the duration of an estate. Read the full definition of Words of limitation on Duhaime.org
Words of purchase
Words which specifically name the person to whom land is being conveyed. Read the full definition of Words of purchase on Duhaime.org
Wreck
An abandoned vessel, or something abandoned off a vessel, which is either afloat, stranded, aground or sunken. Read the full definition of Wreck on Duhaime.org
Writ
An official court document, signed by a judge or bearing an official court seal, which commands the person to whom it is apressed, to do something specific. Read the full definition of Writ on Duhaime.org
Wrongful Death
An American tort law action which claims damages from any person who, through negligence or direct act or omission, caused the death of certain relatives (eg. spouse, children or parent). Read the full definition of Wrongful Death on Duhaime.org
Wrongful Dismissal
Being fired from a job without an adequate reason or without any reason whatsoever. Read the full definition of Wrongful Dismissal on Duhaime.org