actual controversy
Defined in 1 dictionary — Case Law
Definitions from Case Law
From 300 U.S. 227 - Aetna Life Ins Co of Hartford Conn v. Haworth · 1937Most cited · 6,465 citing opinions
The Declaratory Judgment Act of 1934, in its limitation to 'cases of actual controversy,' manifestly has regard to the constitutional provision and is operative only in respect to controversies which are such in the constitutional sense. The word 'actual' is one of emphasis rather than of definition. Thus the operation of the Declaratory Judgment Act is procedural only.