Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
A slang term for a stool pigeon or informant who betrays associates by supplying information to law enforcement or other authorities.
Sources & Authorities· 2 primary sources
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Cases
Uniform Acts
Dictionaries
How it applies
Common Examples
6
Trustee Disclosure to Beneficiary
Renata Russo, a beneficiary, learned that trustee Riley Rivera had diverted trust funds. Renata consented in writing after full disclosure and later attempted to sue. The court held that her consent barred liability under the uniform trust code provision.
Promoter Secret Profit Recovery
Rajesh Rao, a promoter, sold property to the forming corporation without disclosing his markup to all contemplated investors. Ruby Rivera, an initial shareholder, sued to recover the secret profit. The court permitted recovery because disclosure and ratification had not reached every original investor.
Raven Logistics sought to build a warehouse in a residential zone. The village enforced its ordinance limiting commercial uses. The company argued the restriction was arbitrary, but the court upheld it as a valid exercise of police power protecting residential character.
Village of Euclid Ohio v. Ambler Realty Co.272 U.S. 365, 47 S.Ct. 114, 71 L.Ed 303 (1926)
Presidential Immunity Claim
Former president Richard Nixon faced suit for actions taken while in office. A. Ernest Fitzgerald alleged retaliation. The Court held that absolute immunity from civil damages applied to acts within the outer perimeter of presidential responsibility.
Richard Nixon v. A. Ernest Fitzgerald457 U.S. 731 (1982)
Same-Sex Marriage Recognition
Rowan Russell and partner sought a marriage license in a state that limited marriage to opposite-sex couples. They argued the restriction violated due process and equal protection. The Court held that the fundamental right to marry extends to same-sex couples.
Obergefell v. Hodges576 U.S. 644 (2015)
Gun-Free School Zone Statute
Ravi Reddy was prosecuted under a federal statute for possessing a firearm near a school. He challenged the law as exceeding Congress's commerce power. The Court struck down the statute, finding it lacked a sufficient connection to interstate commerce.
United States v. Lopez514 U.S. 549 (1995)
Common questions
Frequently Asked
1
What does the slang term rat mean in a legal context?+
It refers to an informant or stool pigeon who provides information against associates to authorities.
576 U.S. 644 (2015)Legislation and Regulation
…definition of a fundamental right must be limited to those rights that were recognized at the time of the Fourteenth Amendment’s ratification. See, e.g., Roe v. Wade , 410 U. S. 113 (1973); Lawrence , 539 U. S. 558. The right to marry is fundamental because it is inherent in the concept of individual autonomy. It is…