Also known as: principles · legal rule · fundamental truth
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
A fundamental rule or standard that directs legal reasoning or governs the application of doctrine in a specific context. The rule supplies the analytical framework for determining whether an element is satisfied or a duty is discharged.
Piper Patel sued Premier Manufacturing after a machine part failed. Her expert relied on industry testing protocols to conclude the defect caused the failure. The court admitted the testimony because the expert applied reliable methods to the data.
Paula Pierce, a state sheriff, received a federal directive to run handgun purchaser checks. She refused, citing limits on federal power over state officers. The court upheld her refusal because the directive commanded state enforcement of a federal program.
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Paige Porter bought land in another state from Pierce Patterson. A dispute arose over whether state or local law governed her title rights. The court applied the law of the state with the most significant relationship to the land and the parties.
Priya Prasad contracted with Pulse Media to deliver custom video equipment. A sudden government embargo made shipment impossible. The court discharged her duty because the embargo was a supervening event the parties had not anticipated.
Pilar Pena operated a machine that injured a worker. The worker claimed the operation was tortious. The court examined whether the conduct met the standards that subject an actor to liability under tort principles.
Peak Performance held a security interest in inventory sold by its debtor. The sale proceeds were deposited into a commingled bank account. The secured party identified its share by applying equitable tracing methods permitted outside the UCC.
The court examines whether the expert's methods are reliable and whether the opinion applies those methods to the facts. The rule requires both reliable principles and a reliable application of them.
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It bars the federal government from directing states to enact or enforce federal programs or from commanding state officers to administer federal regulatory schemes.
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It selects the law of the state with the closest connection to the thing and the parties when that connection is evaluated under the factors in the governing choice-of-law section.
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It discharges the duty when performance becomes impracticable because of a supervening event whose non-occurrence was a basic assumption of the contract and the party seeking discharge is not at fault.
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It defines the term tortious to mean conduct that subjects the actor to liability under the principles of tort law.
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The secured party may use any tracing method, including equitable principles, that other law permits for commingled property of the same type.
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…the court may award a mandamus to James Madison, Secretary of State. The argument upon the first question was derived from the principles and practice of England and the Constitution and laws of the United States. As the supreme court and by reason of its supremacy it must have superintendence of inferior tribunals and…