prevailing party

prevailing party
The party to a suit who successfully prosecutes the action or successfully defends against it, prevailing on the main issue, even though not necessarily to the extent of his original contention. The one in whose favor the decision or verdict is rendered and judgment entered. Jordan v. Elizabethan Manor, 181 Mont. 424, 593 P.2d 1049, 1055.
This may be the party prevailing in interest, and not necessarily the prevailing person. To be such does not depend upon the degree of success at different stages of the suit, but whether, at the end of the suit, or other proceeding, the party who has made a claim against the other, has successfully maintained it. As used in Federal Civil Procedure Rule 54(d), which provides that costs shall be allowed as of course to prevailing party unless court otherwise directs, "prevailing party" means a party who has obtained some relief in an action, even if that party has not sustained all of his or her claims. First Commodity Traders, Inc. v. Heinold Commodities, Inc., C.A.I11., 766 F.2d 1007, 1015.
The interpretation of this term is important as regards attorney fees in that by statute in certain cases (e.g., civil rights) attorney fees are awarded to the prevailing party.
See e.g., 42 U.S.C.A. No. 1988.

Black's law dictionary. . 1990.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • prevailing party — n. The party to a lawsuit who receives judgment in his or her favor. The Essential Law Dictionary. Sphinx Publishing, An imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc. Amy Hackney Blackwell. 2008. prevailing party The winner in a …   Law dictionary

  • prevailing party — The party who is successful or partially successful in an action, so as to be entitled to costs. 20 Am J2d Costs §§ 14, 15. To be a prevailing party does not depend upon the degree of success at different stages of the suit; but upon whether at… …   Ballentine's law dictionary

  • prevailing party on appeal — The party who obtains a reversal or a modification of judgment substantially favorable to him. 5 Am J2d A & E § 1015. In eminent domain proceedings instituted by the state wherein an appeal is taken to the District Court from an award of the… …   Ballentine's law dictionary

  • prevailing party — noun The party in a civil lawsuit who the factfinder determines to be right, and who, in some jurisdictions, may recover attorneys fees and other expenses associated with the prosecution or defense of the lawsuit …   Wiktionary

  • prevailing party — noun the party in a lawsuit who obtains a judgment in their own favor • Topics: ↑law, ↑jurisprudence • Hypernyms: ↑litigant, ↑litigator …   Useful english dictionary

  • party — par·ty n pl parties 1 a: one (as a person, group, or entity) constituting alone or with others one of the sides of a proceeding, transaction, or agreement the parties to a contract a person who signed the instrument as a party to the instrument… …   Law dictionary

  • prevailing — I (current) adjective abundant, accepted, accustomary, accustomed, all embracing, bourgeois, catholic, characteristic, colloquial, common, commonplace, comprehensive, conformable, contemporary, conventional, current, customary, diffuse, dominant …   Law dictionary

  • substantially prevailing party — The party entitled to costs on appeal where the judgment of the lower court is affirmed in part and reversed in part. 5 Am J2d A & E § 1014 …   Ballentine's law dictionary

  • party — A person concerned or having or taking part in any affair, matter, transaction, or proceeding, considered individually. A party to an action is a person whose name is designated on record as plaintiff or defendant. M & A Elec. Power Co op, v.… …   Black's law dictionary

  • party-government — parˈty govˈernment noun Government by the prevailing political party • • • Main Entry: ↑party …   Useful english dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”