v.
Abbreviation for “versus” in the name of a case; also used as an abbreviation for “vide” (see); “voce” (voice); “verb”; or “volume.”
V.A.
See Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
vacant
Empty, unoccupied.
vacate
1. To cancel; annul; set aside; rescind. 2. To make an act void as “to vacate a judgment.” 3. To move out as in “vacating premises.”
vagrancy
The state or condition of being idle and/or roaming aimlessly, without employment or other means of support, although physically and mentally capable of sustaining employment. State statutes prohibiting vagrancy vary widely, and many have been voided for vagueness.
vagrant
1. An idle wanderer. 2. A person who is capable of maintaining himself by lawful labor, but who refuses to work and lives without labor or on the charity of others.
vague
1. Indefinite; uncertain; imprecise. 2. Not capable of being understood.
vagueness doctrine
A law that does not give reasonable notice as to what acts are required or prohibited is unconstitutional as violative of due process.
valid
1. Legally binding; executed with proper formalities. 2. Authentic. 3. Authorized by law. 4. Incapable of being rightfully overthrown or set aside.
valuable consideration
1. A type of consideration upon which a promise may be founded. Some right, interest, profit, or benefit accruing to one party, or 480some forbearance, detriment, loss, or responsibility given, suffered, or undertaken by the other. 2. Consideration in money or something which has monetary value.
value
1. The utility or worth of an object. 2. An abbreviation for “valuable consideration,” such as in the phrases “purchaser for value” and “holder for value.”
value added tax
A consumption tax that is added to the price of an article at every stage at which value is added to the article. Value added taxes are common in the European Union.
value received
Phrase denoting that consideration has been given; usually used in a bill of exchange or promissory note to denote that lawful consideration has been given for it.
variance
1. In pleading, a discrepancy between two instruments or two allegations in the same cause, which should by law be consonant, such as a disagreement between the statements in the pleadings and the evidence adduced in proof thereof. 2. In zoning, permission to use property in such a way as is otherwise prohibited by the zoning-law.
vassal
1. A feudal landholder who received land from his lord in return for services. 2. Subordinate; usually meant in a derogatory way.
vel non
Lat. Or not.
venal
Susceptible to bribery or corruption.
vend
To sell; to transfer to another for a pecuniary equivalent.
vendee
A purchaser or buyer; one to whom anything is sold. Term generally refers to one who buys land. One who buys goods is usually called a “buyer.”
vendor
A seller; one who sells anything. Generally refers to one selling 481real estate. One who sells goods is usually called a “seller.”
vendor’s lien
In equity, a lien belonging to a vendor for the unpaid purchase price of property where the vendor has not taken any other lien or security.
venire facias
(VEN-eer-ay FASH-ee-as) Lat. Make to come. A writ to a sheriff to summon a jury.
venire facias de novo
Lat. 1. A writ to summon a jury for a new trial. 2. A writ to compel a new trial of an action.
venue
1. The neighborhood. 2. The particular county or geographical area in which a court with jurisdiction may hear and determine a case. 3. In common law pleading and practice, the place, neighborhood, or county in which an injury took place. Spelled “visne” in older common law documents.
veracity
Truthfulness; adherence to truth; accuracy.
verdict
The formal decision of a jury concerning the matters submitted to it in the trial of a cause. A verdict may be general or special. In a “general verdict” the jury decides which side wins, and how much, if applicable. A “special verdict” is when the jury is given specific questions of fact to answer and based on those answers the court determines which party is to have judgment.
verification
Confirmation of the correctness, truth, or authenticity of something (such as a pleading) by means of an affidavit, oath, or deposition.
versus
Lat. Against. In the title of a case the plaintiff’s name is put first followed by “versus” and the defendant’s name. Commonly abbreviated as “v.” or “vs.” (e.g., Smith v. Jones).
vessel
In maritime law, a watercraft or other artificial contrivance used, or capable of being used, as a means of transportation on water.
vest
To give an immediate, fixed right of present or future enjoyment.
vested
Fixed, accrued, absolute, fixed in interest, indefeasible, not contingent. Generally used to describe any right or title to something which is not dependent upon the occurrence or nonoccurrence of some condition precedent. The right must be more than a mere expectation; it must become a title, legal or equitable, to the present or future enforcement of some demand (e.g., pension plan benefits are vested if they are not contingent on the employee continuing to work for the employer).
Veteran’s Administration (V.A.)
Former official name for the U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs (q.v.), still used colloquially.
veto
Lat. I forbid. To refuse to sign a law enacted by the legislative branch of the government.
vexatious litigation
Proceeding instituted which is not bona fide, but which is instituted without probable cause, maliciously, or with the intent to harass the opponent.
viable
Capable of living. Generally term is applied to a newborn or unborn child to denote the power it possesses to continue or maintain an independent existence.
vicarious liability
1. The liability of one person for the acts of another. 2. Indirect legal responsibility (e.g., the liability of the employer for the acts of an employee).
vice
1. (n.) A fault, defect, or imperfection. 2. Immoral conduct, practice, or habit. 3. (adj.) Lat. Instead of; in the place of (e.g., vice president).
vice crimes
Crimes involving conduct that offends community morality standards (e.g., gambling, prostitution, and pornography).
vicinage
Vicinity; neighborhood. In modern usage, this term refers to the area where a trial is held, the jurors are chosen, or a crime is committed.
victim impact statement
An oral or written statement made a part of the record during a criminal sentence proceeding that informs the court and jury of the physical, financial, and emotional effect the defendant’s crime had on the victim.
victualer
One who supplies food that is ready to eat.
victuals
Food that is ready to eat.
viduitate
(vid-YOO-i-tate) Lat. Widow-hood.
vi et armis
(VEE et ar-MISS) Lat. With force and arms.
villenage
A form of feudal tenancy involving tenants of the lowest order who were obliged to perform any services demanded by their lord.
violation
1. Breach of right, duty, or law. 2. Injury. 3. Rape.
violence
The exercise of physical force for the purpose of violating, injuring, or abusing another person or object.
vir
(veer) Lat. Man.
vis
Lat. Force or violence.
visa
The endorsement on a passport or other official document by foreign authorities allowing a person to enter another country.
visitation rights
The right of a parent to visit his or her child. Such rights are frequently granted to a noncustodial parent in a divorce or custody action. Often called “parenting time.” In some states, other family members such as grandparents may be granted visitation rights.
vis major
Lat. A higher force, an irresistible force (e.g., a storm or earthquake).
Visual Artists’ Rights Act (VARA)
Federal law that gives the authors or creators of certain works of visual art moral rights in their work that go beyond copyright. The additional rights include the right to be identified as the author of a work, and the right to prevent distortion or mutilation of a work. 17 U.S.C. § 106A.
vitiate
1. To destroy the legal or binding effect of something, such as an act or instrument (e.g., fraud vitiates a contract). 2. To invalidate; to impair.
viva voce
(VEE-va VO-chay) Lat. The living voice; by word of mouth. 1. In evidence, term means oral testimony as opposed to written evidence such as affidavits or depositions. 2. In relation to voting, term means voting by outcry rather than by written ballots.
viz
Lat. Abbreviation of “videlicet.” Namely; that is to say; to wit.
voice exemplar
Voice identification test, in which a recording of one’s voice is compared to another. Once inadmissible, voice exemplars have been held by the Supreme Court to be valid identification procedures.
void
Of no legal force or binding effect, null, nugatory, incapable of being ratified. Contrast voidable.
void ab initio
Void from the beginning. A contract is void at its inception if it seriously offends law or public policy.
voidable
Defective, but capable of confirmation or ratification, such as a minor;s contract. A minor does not have the capacity to enter into a contract; therefore, any contract he makes is voidable. However, the contract is not void, and, therefore, it is binding on the competent party unless the 485minor repudiates it. A voidable transaction is one that can be affirmed by a party entitled to void it.
void for vagueness
A doctrine used to invalidate laws which are so obscure that persons of average intelligence must guess at the law’s meaning and application. Such laws violate due process. See vagueness doctrine.
voir dire
(vwar or vore deer) Lat. To speak the truth. 1. An examination of a person as a prospective juror to test her competency and prejudice. 2. Preliminary examination of a witness in order to determine her competency to speak the truth.
volenti non fit injuria
(vo-LEN-tee non fit in-JOO-ree-a) Lat. To a willing person no injury is done. Torts maxim meaning that one cannot usually claim damages when he, knowing and comprehending the danger, consented to the action that caused the damage.
Volstead Act
Federal law passed under the Eighteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution which prohibited the manufacture, sale, or transportation of liquor. Repealed by the Twenty-first Amendment.
voluntary
1. Acting without compulsion, intended. 2. Acting on one’s own initiative without being paid to do so. 3. Not impelled by another’s influence. 4. As used in statutes, often implies knowledge of essential facts.
volunteer
1. A person who acts without an express or implied promise or remuneration. 2. A person who enlists in the armed services without being compelled by a military draft. 3. An intruder who intermeddles.
voting right
A qualified citizen’s right to vote in open elections, without discrimination based on race, color or previous condition of servitude.
Voting Rights Act
Federal law guaranteeing the right of qualified citizens to vote, without discrimination based on race, color or previous condition of servitude. 42 U.S.C. § 1971.
voting trust
An arrangement by which shares of stock in a corporation are pooled and held in trust for the purpose of voting them at stockholder’s meetings. Voting trusts are generally created for the purpose of electing officers or controlling the activities of the corporation.
voucher
1. A receipt or other evidence of payment. 2. Written proof of a transaction. 3. A book of accounts containing the company’s receipts. 4. A document giving evidence of an expenditure.