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Simple English definitions for legal terms
rien dit
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A quick definition of rien dit:
Term: RIEN DIT
Definition: Rien dit is a legal term that means "says nothing" in Law French. It is historically used as a plea of nihil dicit, which refers to the failure of a defendant to answer a lawsuit. This can result in a default judgment against the defendant.
A more thorough explanation:
Definition: Rien dit (pronounced "ryan dee") is a Law French term that means "says nothing." It is historically used as a plea of nihil dicit.
Nihil dicit: Nihil dicit (pronounced "nI-hil dI-sit") is a Latin term that means "he says nothing." It has two meanings:
- When a defendant fails to answer a lawsuit.
- When a court enters a default judgment against a defendant who fails to respond to a lawsuit.
For example, if someone sues you and you do not respond to the lawsuit, the court may enter a judgment against you by default. This is called a "nil dicit default judgment."
Another example is if a defendant is served with a lawsuit but does not show up to court or respond to the lawsuit in any way. In this case, the court may enter a default judgment against the defendant based on their failure to answer the lawsuit. This is also a "nil dicit default judgment."
These examples illustrate how the term "rien dit" and its related term "nihil dicit" are used in the legal system to describe a defendant's failure to respond to a lawsuit, which can result in a default judgment being entered against them.