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Private Act

Defined in 5 dictionaries — Cyclopedic (1922), Ballentine's (1916), Bouvier (1914), Black's (1910), Stimson (1881)

The Cyclopedic Law Dictionary

Walter A. Shumaker and George Foster Longsdorf; ed. James C. Cahill · 1922

An act operating only upon particular persons and private concerns, and rather an exception than a rule. Opposed to "public act." 1 Bl. Comm. 86) 1 Term R. 125; Plowd. 28; Dyer, 75, 119; 4 Coke, 76. Private acts ought not to be noticed by courts unless pleaded.

Ballentine's Law Dictionary

James A. Ballentine · 1916

A statute which operates only upon specific persons and private concerns. See 59 Cal. 6, 43 Am. Rep. 231.

Bouvier's Law Dictionary and Concise Encyclopedia

John Bouvier; revised by Francis Rawle · 1914

Black's Law Dictionary

Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910

A statute operating only upon particular persons and private concerns, and of which the courts are not bound to take notice. Unity v. Burrage, 103 U. S. 454, 26 L. Ed. 405; Fall Brook Coal Co. v. Lynch, 47 How. Prae. (N. Y.) 520; Sasser v. Martin, 101 Ga. 447, 29 S. E. 278.

Defined under Act in Black's Law Dictionary.

Glossary of Technical Terms, Phrases, and Maxims of the Common Law

Frederic Jesup Stimson · 1881

statute. A statute affecting which the courts are not bound to take notice. poration: V. Corporation. Private law: between subject and subject; v. Public law. Private nuisance: a nuisance affecting a estate; v. Nuisance. Privatum commodum publico cedit, or modum publico bono pensatur, /. yield to pubhc; or, the private inconvenience public good. Privatorum pacta, etc.: v.