Legal Dictionary – Glossary of Legal Terms

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F

Fact Question. Issues in a trial or hearing concerning facts and how they occurred, as opposed to questions of law. Fact questions are for the jury to decide, unless the issues are presented in a non-jury or bench trial, in which case the judge would decide fact questions. Questions of law are decided by a judge. Findings of fact are generally non-appealable, while rulings on questions of law are subject to appeal.

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). A federal law that provides certain employees with serious health problems or those who need to care for a child or other family member with up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave per year. It also requires that group health benefits be maintained.

Family Practitioner. A physician who has a general health care practice and no specialization.

Felony. Crimes of a graver or more serious nature than misdemeanors.

Filing. Sending or delivering a document to an employer or a government agency as part of a legal process. The date of filing is the date the document is received.

Final Order. A decision or award made by a workers’ compensation judge.

Findings. A written decision by a judge about a case. This decision is final unless an appeal is filed.

Final Receipt. In a workers compensation case, it’s the form presented by the insurance carrier for the injured employee’s signature so that benefits will stop upon return to work.

First Party Benefits. In insurance law, first party benefits include medical benefits, income loss benefits, accidental death benefit, funeral benefit, and extraordinary medical benefits. In Pennsylvania, the only required coverage is $5,000 in medical benefits.

Forseeability. in tort law is the reasonable anticipation that an injury may occur through the action or inaction of another party.

Fracture. A break or crack in a bone.

Fraud. False and deceptive statement of fact intended to induce another person to rely upon and, in reliance thereof, give up a valuable thing he or she owns or a legal right he or she is entitled to.

Full Tort Option. In Pennsylvania, purchasers of motor vehicle insurance can choose "full tort," which gives the insured the unrestricted right to seek money damages for all injuries sustained in an accident caused by another driver, including economic loss, pain and suffering and other non-monetary damages. Compare with limited tort option.