Glossary
of legal terms - N
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national
origin discrimination
National
origin discrimination occurs when an employer
treats an employee differently because of the
country the employee came from or because of the
employee's ancestry.
NLRB
Abbreviation
of the federal National Labor Relations Board.
The NLRB's main office is in Washington, D.C.,
but the NLRB also has "regional" offices in many
other cities. The NLRB enforces federal laws governing
labor relations between employers and unions and
union workers.
necessaries
Things
basic to the maintenance of a standard of living
consistent with the parties' general status. For
couples who have had a high standard of living
during their marriage, necessaries might include
much more than basic items such as food and clothing.
Compare Common Necessaries.
negligence
The
failure to use reasonable care.
net
lease
A
commercial lease under which the tenant pays most
or all of the landlord's expenses (such as property
taxes), so the landlord receives a "net"
amount that is mostly pure profit.
no
contest
A
defendant's plea not contesting the criminal charges.
This is called a plea of nolo contendere and is
essentially the same as a guilty plea. While technically
not an admission of guilt as to the commission
of the crime, the punishment is identical. Such
a plea is made in cases where there is pending
civil liability. For this reason many states will
not permit a no contest plea where there has been
injury as a result of the criminal conduct.
no
fault divorce
The
system (now available in all states) in which
a person is entitled to obtain a divorce without
demonstrating that the other spouse is at fault.
no
fault insurance
A
system of automobile insurance where one collects
from his or her own insurance company regardless
of who is at fault for the accident.
nolo
contendere
The
Latin term for a defendant's plea of not contesting
the criminal charges. It is essentially the same
as a guilty plea. While technically not an admission
of guilt as to the commission of the crime, the
punishment is identical. Such a plea is made in
cases where there is pending civil liability.
For this reason many states will not permit a
no contest plea where there has been injury as
a result of the criminal conduct.
non-compete
agreement
A
contract between an employer and employee requiring
the employee to agree not to start his own businesses
or go to work for a competitor after he leaves
his job with the employer.
non custodial
parent
The
parent with whom a child does not reside. Generally,
the non custodial parent will have visitation rights
to see children who reside with the custodial
parent.
non dischargeable
debt
Any
obligation that cannot be wiped out in bankruptcy.
nonexempt
property
Property
that a debtor loses in bankruptcy. A debtor who
files a Chapter 13 plan must pay creditors at
least as much as the value of the nonexempt property.
nonimmigrant
A person seeking admission to the U.S. for a
definite period of time and not as an immigrant.
nonimmigrant
visa
A travel document allowing a person to seek admission
at a U.S. port of entry to be admitted for a definite
period of time.
nonimmigrant
workers
Special
category of visas for persons coming to the U.S.
for a limited period of time to work.
non modifiable
order
A
court order that cannot be modified by the court
regardless of any change in the circumstances
of the parties. Some spousal support orders are
non modifiable, generally by agreement of the parties.
notice
to pay or quit
A
written notice given by the landlord ordering
the tenant to pay overdue rent or leave the premises
within a stated period of time (usually 3 days).
notice
of resignation
A
written or verbal notice given by an employee
to end employment with an employer.
notice
of termination
A
written or verbal notice given by an employer
to end a worker's employment. Also known as "notice
of discharge".
notice to appear
A document issued by the immigration court directing
the person to appear for a hearing at a specific
time and location, to determine whether the person
should be admitted or removed from the U.S. This
document is referred to as an "NTA".
not
guilty
The
formal plea at arraignment in which the defendant
denies each and every criminal allegation of the
complaint. A finding of not guilty can also occur
at the conclusion of the trial either by a judge
or a jury.
not
guilty by reason of insanity
This
plea is more of a defense then a response to a
criminal allegation. Technically a defendant will
have committed the physical act constituting the
crime but claim no legal responsibility because
he or she was insane when the crime was committed.
Since all crime must include criminal intent,
the defendant’s insanity plea is recognized
as a complete defense to the charge -- thereby
making the defendant not guilty.
nuisance
A
wrongful use of property that hurts the ability
of neighbors to use their properties peacefully.
Loud noises and noxious smells and sometimes nuisances.
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