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Simple English definitions for legal terms
bill of indemnity
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A quick definition of bill of indemnity:
A bill of indemnity is a law that protects a public official from being held responsible for things they did while doing their job. It's like a shield that keeps them safe from getting in trouble for doing what they were supposed to do. In the past, there was a special law called the bill of indemnity that was passed every year to protect officials who forgot to take an oath. But now, there is a different law that does the same thing. Sometimes, people use the term "bill of indemnity" to describe a legal document that asks someone else to take responsibility for something that the person using the document did wrong.
A more thorough explanation:
A bill of indemnity is a legal document that protects a public official from being held liable for their official acts. It can also refer to an initial pleading by a plaintiff to require another party, such as an insurance company, to discharge the plaintiff's liability to a third person.
1. In the past, an annual bill of indemnity was passed by Parliament to protect officeholders who unintentionally failed to take a required oath from being held responsible for their actions in an official capacity. This law was replaced by the Promissory Oaths Act in 1868.
2. A police officer who uses reasonable force to apprehend a suspect is protected by a bill of indemnity from being sued for assault or battery.
3. A construction company may require a subcontractor to sign a bill of indemnity to protect themselves from any liability arising from the subcontractor's work.
These examples illustrate how a bill of indemnity can provide legal protection to individuals or organizations from being held responsible for certain actions or events.