LegalLingo

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A

affirm

NOT: a bestselling John Grisham novel

But Actually: when a higher court agrees with how the lower court ruled

affirmative defense

NOT: a new Steven Seagal movie

But Actually: a defense in response to the complaint that does not deny the plaintiff's claims, but offers a legal excuse for the action or inaction that the plaintiff is complaining about; also called an "avoidance"