Legal Terms: O

A non-immigrant visa for individuals with extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics, requiring extensive documentation of national or international acclaim.

A solemn promise to tell the truth or faithfully perform a duty, often invoking a higher power. Witnesses testify under oath.

The sworn declaration of loyalty to the United States that a naturalization applicant must take to complete the citizenship process, renouncing prior foreign allegiances and pledging to support the Constitution.

A formal protest raised by an attorney during trial challenging the admissibility of evidence or the propriety of a question or procedure.

The crime of intentionally interfering with the administration of law, including tampering with evidence, intimidating witnesses, or lying to investigators.

A ground for rejecting or invalidating a patent if the invention would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention.

The patentability requirement under 35 U.S.C. Section 103 that the differences between the claimed invention and prior art must not have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention.

Use by a non-party plaintiff of issue preclusion against a defendant who lost the issue in a prior suit, permitted in federal court since Parklane Hosiery v. Shore.

A proposal by one party to another indicating a willingness to enter into a contract on specified terms.

A manifestation of willingness to enter into a bargain so made as to justify another person in understanding that assent will conclude the bargain, per Restatement (Second) 24.

An agreement between a taxpayer and the IRS to settle a tax debt for less than the full amount owed, based on the taxpayer's ability to pay.

A legal document describing a securities offering in a private placement, similar to a prospectus but used for exempt offerings.

A written communication from a patent or trademark examiner at the USPTO raising objections or rejections that the applicant must address.

An attorney's introductory remarks at the beginning of a trial, outlining the evidence and arguments they intend to present.

The internal governing document of an LLC that sets forth the members' rights, duties, capital contributions, profit and loss allocations, management structure, and dissolution procedures. It is typically not filed publicly and can override most default state LLC statutes.

A judge's written explanation of the court's decision, including the legal reasoning, analysis of facts, and conclusion.

A non-propensity purpose allowing prior bad acts to show the defendant had the access or means necessary to commit the charged offense.

A TTAB proceeding initiated by a third party to prevent registration of a published mark on grounds such as likelihood of confusion, descriptiveness, or fraud.

Optional Practical Training, work authorization for up to 12 months available to F-1 students for employment directly related to their field of study.

A class structure, common under the FLSA collective action mechanism, in which members must affirmatively join to be bound and benefit from the judgment.

A Rule 23(b)(3) class in which absent members are bound by the judgment unless they affirmatively request exclusion after receiving notice.

A program allowing F-1 students to work in the United States for up to 12 months (or 36 months for STEM graduates) in a field related to their study.

The full term for OPT, the post-completion employment authorization allowing F-1 students to gain practical experience in their academic field.

A deposition under Rule 30 conducted live with counsel asking questions and a court reporter transcribing the testimony, limited to one day of seven hours.

A law enacted by a municipal or local government, such as a city or county.

The authority of a court to hear a case for the first time, as opposed to appellate jurisdiction.

A copyrighted work whose owner cannot be identified or located after a reasonably diligent search, creating uncertainty about licensing and use.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the federal agency responsible for setting and enforcing workplace safety and health standards.

A written notice issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration alleging violations of workplace safety standards and proposing penalties.

A partner's basis in the partnership interest itself, used to determine gain or loss on sale of the interest and the deductibility of partnership losses.

When a court rejects an objection during trial, allowing the evidence or question. Also, when a higher court sets aside a lower court's precedent.

Directors' duty under Caremark to make a good-faith effort to implement information and reporting systems and to monitor those systems for compliance and risk.

Compensation required under the FLSA at one and a half times the regular rate of pay for hours worked in excess of 40 in a workweek by nonexempt employees.

Chemicals regulated under the Clean Air Act and the Montreal Protocol that deplete the stratospheric ozone layer, including chlorofluorocarbons and hydrochlorofluorocarbons.