Define: Doctrine

The doctrine of precedent, also known as stare decisis, is the principle that courts are bound to follow the rulings of higher courts in similar cases.

The doctrine of sovereign immunity protects the government and its agencies from being sued without their consent.

The doctrine of separation of powers refers to the division of government into three branches – legislative, executive, and judicial – each with its own powers and responsibilities.

The doctrine of fair use allows limited use of copyrighted material without permission for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research.

The doctrine of unclean hands states that a party who has engaged in unethical or illegal behavior related to the contract cannot seek relief from the court.

The doctrine of contributory negligence holds that if a plaintiff is partially responsible for their own injury, they may be barred from recovering damages from the defendant.

The doctrine of res ipsa loquitur allows a plaintiff to establish a defendant’s negligence based on the circumstances of the injury, without direct evidence of the defendant’s actions.

The doctrine of promissory estoppel allows a party to enforce a promise made by another party, even if there is no formal contract, if the promisee relied on the promise to their detriment.

The doctrine of laches bars a legal claim if the plaintiff unreasonably delays in asserting their rights, causing prejudice to the defendant.

The doctrine of res judicata, or claim preclusion, prevents a party from relitigating a claim that has already been decided by a final judgment.