Glossary of Transportation Law Terms

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z #

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P&I: Protection and Indemnity; used in the field of insurance.

Pacific Type Locomotive: A locomotive with the 4-6-2 wheel arrangement. The first 4-6-2s were built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in the US for the NZ Railways, hence the name.

Paired Track: When two railroads own single track lines, they may reach an agreement whereby one railroad’s track services both roads in one direction, while the other railroad’s track services both roads in the other direction.

Parachute: A device used or intended to be used to retard the fall of a body or object through the air.

Passanger: A passenger is any occupant on the aircraft not performing a crew duty and logging flying time in accordance with paragraph 2-6. Passengers on Army aircraft must be authorized in accordance with chapter 3.

Passenger Ship: A passenger ship that is authorized to carry over twelve passengers.

Peremptory Challenge: A challenge to a particular juror that requires no reason. Normally an attorney has a limited number of these challenges.

Personal Injury: An injury not to property, but to your body, mind or emotions. For example, if you slip and fall on a banana peel in the grocery store, personal injury covers any actual physical harm (broken leg and bruises) you suffered in the fall as well as the humiliation of falling in public, but not the harm of shattering your watch.

Personal Property: Defined by the law as “things movable.” This is distinguished from the term “real property,” which includes things such as trees, buildings and land.

Petition: A formal request that the court take some action; a complaint.

Piston Rod: The rod connecting the piston to the crosshead at the rear of the cylinder. The piston rod is kept parallel to the cylinder by the slidebars guiding the crosshead as it moves forward and back.

Plaintiff: The party bringing the case against another.

Pleading: A document which makes a formal statement or charge by the litigants. All papers filed with the court are collectively referred to as “pleadings.”

Port Of Call: Port where a ship discharges or receives traffic

Power Of Attorney: The authority to act legally for another person.

Precedent: The value that a completed case has on deciding future cases.

Prima Facie: Latin for "at first view." Refers to the minimum amount of evidence a plaintiff must have to avoid having a case dismissed. It is said that the plaintiff must make a prima facie case.

Privileged Communication: Conversation that takes places within the context of a protected relationship, such as that between an attorney and client, a husband and wife, a priest and penitent, and a doctor and patient. The law often protects against forced disclosure of such conversations.

Process Serving: The method by which a defendant in a lawsuit is notified that a plaintiff has filed a suit against him.

Pro Se: (pronounced pro say) Latin phrase that means "for himself." A person who represents himself in court alone without the help of a lawyer is said to appear pro se.

Protective Order: In litigation, an order that prevents the disclosure of sensitive information except to certain individuals under certain conditions.

Public Aircraft: Aircraft used only in the service of a government of a political subdivision. It does not include any government-owned aircraft engaged in carrying persons or property for commercial purposes.

Punitive Damages: Damages given for the purpose of punishing the defendant.