Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
An adjective indicating a limited or reduced duration or length.
Sources & Authorities· 37 primary sources
Select any source to read its text and confirm it supports the definition.
Cases
Statutes
How it applies
Common Examples
6
Interrogatory Response Deadline
Stella Shapiro received interrogatories from opposing counsel on March 1. She served complete written answers under oath on March 25. The court treated the period as short enough to satisfy the default rule and denied a motion to compel.
Removal Filing Statement
Sydney Santos was served with a state-court complaint on April 10. Her attorney filed the notice of removal in federal court on May 5, attaching all process and pleadings. The district court accepted the filing because it contained the required short and plain statement of the grounds.
Board Meeting Notice
Spencer Silver called a special board meeting for Southland Foods on June 12. The corporate secretary sent written notice on June 9 stating the date, time, and place. Directors attended without objection because the two-day interval satisfied the default requirement.
Simone Sanders crossed a busy intersection against the light while texting. A driver struck her car. The jury found her conduct fell short of the standard to which a reasonable person should conform and reduced her recovery.
Nonparent Visitation Period
Scott Summers lived with his niece for eleven months after her parents' death. He petitioned for visitation rights. The court accepted the period as sufficiently close to the statutory threshold under a good-cause finding.
Document Production Response
Sofia Stern received a Rule 34 request on July 1. She served written responses on July 28 agreeing to produce the requested records. The court upheld the timing as compliant with the thirty-day default.
Common questions
Frequently Asked
3
Does a party always have exactly thirty days to respond to interrogatories?+
No. The default period is thirty days after service, but the parties may stipulate to a shorter or longer time under Rule 29 or the court may order a different period.
Supporting sources
What happens if a defendant files a notice of removal after the thirty-day window?+
The notice is untimely. The statute requires filing within thirty days after receipt of the initial pleading, and late filing prevents removal.
Supporting sources
Can a corporation's board waive the two-day notice for a special meeting?+
Yes. A director may waive notice in writing before or after the meeting, and the articles or bylaws may alter or eliminate the notice requirement.
Supporting sources
410 U.S. 113 (1973)Constitutional Law
…laws, especially during the first trimester of pregnancy. "Recognizing that a number of problems appeared in New York, a shorter time period for unlimited' abortions was advisable. The time period was bracketed to permit the various states to insert a figure more in keeping with the different conditions that might…