The legal doctrine that a court will only hear a case that is an actual dispute, not one that is hypothetical, theoretically possible or which may happen in the future and which an immediate judgment on the issues is not necessary. … [Read more...]

crim. law. A trick practised by a criminal, by which, on receiving a good piece of money in payment of an article, he pretends it is not good, and, changing it, returns to the buyer a counterfeit one, as in the following case: The prosecutor having bargained with the prisoner, who was selling fruit about the streets, to have five apricot's for sixpence, gave him a good shilling … [Read more...]

A gratuity or reward given to tenants after they had reaped their lord's corn, or done other customary duties. Cowell. … [Read more...]

Scottish law. The right which each of several cautioners (sureties) has to refuse to answer for more than his own share of the debt. To entitle the cautioner to this right, the other cautioners must be solvent, and there must be no words in the bond to exclude it. 1 Bell's Com. 347, 5th ed. … [Read more...]

See cooling-off rules. … [Read more...]