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Casual

Defined in 4 dictionaries — Ballentine's (1916), Black's (1910), Black's (1891), Anderson (1889)

Ballentine's Law Dictionary

James A. Ballentine · 1916

Accidental; of unknown origin; one irregularly employed as a servant.

Black's Law Dictionary

Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910

That which happens accidentally or is brought about by causes unknown ; fortuitous; the result of chance. Lewis v. Lofley, 92 Ga. 804, 19 S. E. 57.

Casual ejector. In practice. The nominal defendant in an action of ejectment; so called because, by a fiction of law peculiar to that action, he is supposed to come casually or by accident upon the premises, and to turn out or eject the lawful possessor. 3 Bl. Comm. 203; 3 Steph. Comm 670 ; French v. Robb, 67 N. J. Law. 260, 51 Atl. 509, 57 In R. A. 956, 91 Am. St Rep. 433.

Casual evidence. A phrase used to denote (in contradistinction to "preappointed evidence") all such evidence as happens to be adducible of a fact or event, but which was not prescribed by statute or otherwise arranged beforehand to be the evidence of the fact or event. Brown.

Casual pauper. A poor person who, in England, applies for relief in a parish other than that of his settlement. The ward in the work-house to which they are admitted is called the "casual ward."

Casual poor. In English law. Those who are not settled in a parish. Such poor persons as are suddenly taken sick, or meet with some accident, when away from home, and who are thus providentially thrown upon the charities of those among whom they happen to be. Force v. Haines, 17 N. J. Law, 405.

A Dictionary of Law

Henry Campbell Black · 1891

That which happens accidentally, or is bronght about by causes unknown; fortuitous; the result of chance.

A Dictionary of Law

William C. Anderson · 1889

* That which happens by accident or is brought about by an unknown cause. Compare Regular. Casual ejector. A nominal defendant in the action of ejectment at common law. By a fiction he was supposed to have entered and ejected the lawful possessor.' Casual pauper or poor. A person who is assisted under the poor laws in a district other than that of his lawful settlement. Whence " casuals." See further Poor. Casualty. An inevitable accident, g. v. "Unavoidable casualty," in common use in leases, comprehends only damage or destruction arising from supervening and uncontrollable force or accident. By strict definition, an event or accident which human prudence, foresight, and sagacity cannot prevent." See Act, 1, Of God; Insurance.