Also known as: frank · frankly · free · privileged
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
An adjective of historical legal usage denoting freedom from feudal service, obligations, or other legal constraints.
Select any source to read its text and confirm it supports the definition.
Francesca Fiore contracted to purchase land from Flagship Logistics. At closing the seller tendered a deed showing the grantee held the estate frank, free of any feudal incidents. The buyer accepted because the title carried no residual services or obligations.
Frank Fisher, a minister, challenged a municipal ordinance that restricted outdoor religious services. The court held that the ordinance violated his frank right to worship without governmental interference.
Fatou Fall served a computation of damages in her personal-injury action. Because the supporting medical records were not privileged, she produced them without restriction, treating the materials as frank for discovery purposes.
Fumiko Fujimoto entered an abandoned warehouse to retrieve her own tools. Because the structure was frank of any possessory interest, the affirmative defense to burglary applied and the charge was dismissed.
Felipe Figueroa contributed to a judicial candidate's campaign. The contribution was frank and not made to obtain a government legal engagement, so Rule 7.6 was not implicated.
Fiona Foster refused to disclose a letter she had written to her husband during their marriage. The court recognized the communication as frank and therefore protected by the marital communications privilege.
It denotes freedom from feudal service or other legal constraints.
Supporting sources
…Prior to approximately the first trimester of pregnancy the attending physician, in consultation with his patient, is free to determine, without regulation by the State, that, in his medical judgment, the patient's pregnancy should be terminated. If that decision is reached, the judgment may be effectuated by…