Also known as: rights · rightful · rightfully · entitlement · claim
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
A legal entitlement or interest recognized and protected by law.
Roger Ramirez shot his neighbor after concluding the act served a higher moral purpose. At trial he proved a mental disease caused him to believe the shooting was right under law. The prosecution showed he retained the capacity to recognize that society viewed the killing as wrong. The court denied acquittal under the M'Naghten test.
Rosa Ruiz signed a binding contract to buy land from Riverfront Developments. Before closing a storm destroyed a barn on the property. Rosa bore the loss because she already held an equitable interest in the land while the seller retained only legal title in trust.
Select any source to read its text and confirm it supports the definition.
Rachel Ramirez sued a neighbor for $50,000 in damages arising from a boundary dispute. She filed a timely jury demand. The court preserved her right to a jury trial because the claim exceeded twenty dollars and sought relief available at common law.
Renata Russo faced a defamation claim that turned on whether she possessed a violent character trait. The plaintiff introduced evidence of three prior assaults. The court admitted the specific instances because the trait was an essential element of the defense.
Rhea Reynolds faced a malpractice suit brought by a former client. She disclosed limited confidential information to establish her defense. The disclosure was permitted because it responded directly to allegations concerning her representation.
Rowan Russell remained in possession of leased premises after the lease term ended. He asserted no claim of superior title. The landlord treated the occupancy as an estate at sufferance and pursued eviction without first establishing a new tenancy.
No. The defendant must also lack capacity to recognize that society regards the conduct as wrong.
Risk passes at contract formation in most jurisdictions because the buyer then holds an equitable interest in the land.
Suits at common law exceeding twenty dollars preserve the right to jury trial, and facts found by a jury may be re-examined only according to common-law rules.
Specific instances are admissible when the character trait is an essential element of a charge, claim, or defense.
Yes. Disclosure is permitted to establish a claim or defense in a controversy between lawyer and client or to respond to allegations concerning the representation.
…to be independent. The applicants conceive themselves to be duly appointed justices and believe it their duty to maintain their rights and not to suffer them to be violated by the hand of power. The cause though seemingly trivial is important in principle. It only remains to consider whether a mandamus to compel delivery…