Public Health Law Map - Beta 5 - Medical and Public Health Law Site

Charge The final address by a judge to the
jury in which the judge instructs the
jury how to apply the law to the facts
in the case before them. Since the
slant of the jury charge has a great
impact on the jury’s final decision,
many appeals cases are based on the
errors in the charge.
Charitable Immunity A disappearing legal doctrine that
gives a charitable hospital immunity
from the negligent acts of its
employees.
Civil Law In the United States, legal actions
that cannot result in a person being
punished by imprisonment. In most
of Europe, and Louisiana, civil law
refers to a system of law based on
statutes rather than court decisions.
See Common Law.
Claim A demand for compensation, benefits
or relief.
COBRA Congressional Omnibus Budget
Reconciliation Act. The massive bill
passed at the end of a term of
Congress that approves the spending
for all areas not previously
authorized in specific bills.
Common Law Law made by judges in the context of
particular cases, and based on
decisions made in previous cases
involving related facts and laws. In
the United States, the Constitution
provides a limit on the reach of
judges making common law. (Most
of constitutional law, however, deals
with disputes over the extent of these
limits.) The United States has a
combination of common and civil
law because the legislatures can
overturn the common law made by
judges.
Comparative The legal theory that allows the jury
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