Huh? Pleading Ignorance looks to 2010 & your Legal Questions

December 31st, 2009. By Kristine B

Damnum Absque Injuria. Res Ipsa Loquitur. Causa Sine Qua Non. Brutum Fulmen! BRUTUM FULMEN!!

Uhh…say what? Sounds pretty fire & brimstone—so did we just get back from Christmas Mass at the Vatican and have a little leftover Latin-on-the-brain? Not quite. All the above lingo (lingua Latina!) are legal phrases that no one (except lawyers) really knows a damnum thing about. “Latin’s a dead language!” you say? Well, those in the legal profession didn’t get that memo…and they’re not going to…and that’s why we started the Pleading Ignorance blog posts this year.

And now the year is officially at a close—and I have to say, it’s been a pleasure writing Pleading Ignorance over the past few months. From negligence to financial issues and from whistleblowers to mandatory arbitration, I’ve covered topics that can sort give you that glazed-over, no-blessed-clue-what-you’re-talking-about look when you’re listening to someone (a lawyer?) ramble on about ’em.

Why can’t they just speak English? Or at least a language that didn’t get sacked by Visigoths and Vandals (and then some) some fifteen hundred plus years ago? I suppose you can either argue that the industry is steeped in tradition, or in need of a newfangled 12-step program to just “let it go”.

Regardless, the lingo is here to stay and I enjoy the role of interpreter—so I’m looking forward digging into whatever we’re all pleading ignorant on in 2010…  

In the meantime, I’m throwing it over to YOU, our readers, to see if you have any questions about legal issues or concepts. Are there any topics that LawyersAndSettlements.com covers that you would like to see discussed in this forum? Let me know!

Just keep in mind—I’m not a lawyer—don’t even play one on TV—so I won’t be offering any legal advice. But, as a legal writer, I do have to know a thing or two about legal-speak, legalese, legal jargon—things like the fact that jury-rigging has nothing to do with a jury—but you can still claim a jury’s been rigged—and that right there is a Linda Richman “Coffee Talk”-let’s-discuss moment just itching to happen tonight at your New Year’s Eve soiree. 

So, if you’ve got some questions about legal concepts that don’t quite make sense, or legal words or phrases you just don’t use when you’re picking up some groceries or answering your phone at work, drop me a line at Pleading Ignorance. Can’t promise I’ll get to answer every one, but I’ll sure try! 

I hope everyone has a happy New Year and a fantastic start to 2010. And for those of you who have been affected by someone else’s wrongdoing, I hope you get the chance to have your case heard, or at the very least, to share your story with others. 

Most of all, I hope 2010 proves to be a wonderful year, for everyone. 

Thanks for reading!

Tags: Pleading Ignorance

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