UT glossary terms

Browse full definitions for every UT term in the Amicus glossary.

Utility

/ˈjuː.tɪ.lɪ.ti/

Definitions

  1. (n.) The state or quality of being useful, providing satisfaction or benefit, especially in economic or legal contexts regarding value or advantage.
    The contract was evaluated based on its utility to the client.
  2. (n.) A public service or company that supplies essential services like water, electricity, or gas regulated by law.
    The utility company must adhere to government regulations to ensure fair pricing.

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Commentary

In legal contexts, 'utility' may refer both to economic value influencing contractual considerations and to regulated public service entities; awareness of context is key when drafting or interpreting provisions.

Utility Commission

/ˈjuːtɪlɪti kəˈmɪʃən/

Definitions

  1. (n.) A governmental or regulatory agency charged with overseeing and regulating public utilities such as electricity, water, and telecommunications to ensure fair rates and reliable service.
    The utility commission approved the new rate increase for electricity providers.

Forms

  • utility commission
  • utility commissions

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Commentary

Utility commissions often have quasi-legislative and quasi-judicial functions, requiring precise statutory language to delineate their jurisdiction and authority.

Utility Company

/ˈjuːtɪlɪti ˈkʌmpəni/

Definitions

  1. (n.) A business organization that provides essential public services such as water, electricity, or gas to consumers under government regulation.
    The utility company restored power after the storm.

Forms

  • utility companies

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Commentary

The term generally refers to entities subject to regulatory control due to their provision of essential services; usage varies by jurisdiction depending on regulatory frameworks.

Utility Connection

/ˈjuːtɪlɪti kəˈnɛkʃən/

Definitions

  1. (n.) A legal agreement or physical attachment that enables the supply or access to public services such as water, electricity, gas, or telecommunications to a property.
    The tenant must ensure that the utility connection is established before moving in.

Forms

  • utility connections

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Commentary

Utility connection often involves contractual and regulatory aspects defining rights and responsibilities for service provision to properties.

Utility Contract

/ˈjuːtɪlɪti ˈkɒntrækt/

Definitions

  1. (n.) A legally binding agreement for the provision or supply of utility services such as electricity, water, gas, or telecommunications under defined terms and conditions.
    The utility contract specifies the rates and service obligations for the electricity provider.

Forms

  • utility contracts

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Commentary

Utility contracts often include regulatory compliance terms reflecting the public interest inherent in utility services.

Utility Easement

/ˈjuːtəˌlɪti ˈiːzmənt/

Definitions

  1. (n.) A legal right granted to a utility company or entity to use a portion of another's property for installing, maintaining, and accessing utility lines and equipment.
    The utility easement allows the power company to run electrical lines across the property.

Forms

  • utility easements

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Commentary

Utility easements are often drafted with specific terms about access, maintenance, and restoration of the property after work.

Utility Law

/ˈjuːtɪlɪti lɔː/

Definitions

  1. (n.) Branch of law governing public utilities and their regulation, including electricity, water, and telecommunications services.
    The utility law mandates fair pricing and reliable service from utility companies.

Forms

  • utility law

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Commentary

Utility law focuses on regulating essential services often provided by monopolies, balancing public interest with business viability.

Utility Patent

/ˈjuːtɪlɪti ˈpætənt/

Definitions

  1. (n.) A government-granted exclusive right to an invention that is novel, non-obvious, and useful, allowing the patent holder to exclude others from making, using, or selling the invention for a limited period.
    The inventor secured a utility patent for her new mechanical device.

Forms

  • utility patents

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Commentary

Utility patents are the most common type of patents and focus primarily on functional and structural innovations rather than ornamental designs.

Utility Regulation

/ˈjuːtɪlɪti ˌrɛɡjʊˈleɪʃən/

Definitions

  1. (n.) The body of laws, rules, and administrative practices governing the provision, pricing, and operation of public utilities such as electricity, water, and telecommunications.
    Utility regulation ensures that electricity providers do not charge excessive rates to consumers.
  2. (n.) A legal framework aimed at balancing public interest with the financial viability of utility companies through oversight by regulatory commissions or agencies.
    The state’s utility regulation requires regular audits of water companies to protect consumer rights.

Forms

  • utility regulations

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Commentary

Utility regulation typically involves specialized agencies and requires careful drafting to balance consumer protection with infrastructure investment incentives.

Utility Service

/ˈjuːtɪlɪti ˈsɜːrvɪs/

Definitions

  1. (n.) A service providing essential public utilities such as water, electricity, gas, or telecommunications, typically regulated by law.
    The city contracted with a utility service to supply electricity to all municipal buildings.

Forms

  • utility services

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Commentary

In legal drafting, specify the type of utility service due to differing regulatory frameworks governing each (e.g., electricity versus telecommunications).

Utilization Management

/ˌjuːtəlaɪˈzeɪʃən ˈmænɪdʒmənt/

Definitions

  1. (n.) A process in health law whereby insurers evaluate the necessity, appropriateness, and efficiency of healthcare services before approving payment.
    Utilization management helps control healthcare costs by assessing which treatments are medically necessary.

Forms

  • utilization management

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Commentary

Often used in insurance and health law contexts, utilization management requires clear procedural standards to avoid disputes about coverage and reimbursement eligibility.

Utilization Review

/ˌjuːtɪləˈzeɪʃən rɪˈvjuː/

Definitions

  1. (n.) A process whereby a third-party payer or insurer reviews the medical necessity, appropriateness, and efficiency of healthcare services provided to patients.
    The insurance company conducted a utilization review before approving the surgery.

Forms

  • utilization review
  • utilization reviews

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Commentary

Utilization review often involves criteria set by insurers or regulatory bodies and can impact coverage decisions and payment; drafters should distinguish it from peer review, which focuses on clinical quality rather than cost or necessity.

Utmost

/ˈʌt.moʊst/

Definitions

  1. (adj.) Greatest or highest in degree, amount, or extent, especially in duties or standards.
    Parties must exercise the utmost good faith in contract negotiations.
  2. (n.) The highest degree or greatest extent possible.
    He showed the utmost respect for the court's decision.

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Commentary

In legal contexts, 'utmost' often qualifies the standard of conduct required, such as in fiduciary duties, emphasizing an elevated level of care beyond the ordinary.

Utmost Care

/ˈʌtmoʊst keər/

Definitions

  1. (n.) The highest degree of caution and diligence legally required or expected in performing a duty or obligation.
    The trustee must exercise utmost care when managing the beneficiary's assets.

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Commentary

In legal drafting, 'utmost care' often implies a higher standard than ordinary care, especially in fiduciary relationships or in contexts demanding exceptional diligence.

Utmost Good Faith

/ˈʌtmoʊst ɡʊd feɪθ/

Definitions

  1. (n.) A legal principle requiring parties to a contract, especially insurance contracts, to disclose all material facts honestly and fully.
    The principle of utmost good faith demands that insurers receive complete and truthful information to assess risk.

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Commentary

Utmost good faith is a stricter standard than ordinary good faith and is mainly applied in insurance law to prevent concealment or misrepresentation between contracting parties.

Utopia

/juːˈtoʊpiə/

Definitions

  1. (n.) An idealized society or state of perfect social, legal, and political conditions, often used hypothetically in legal and political theory to discuss concepts of justice and governance.
    The philosopher’s treatise described a utopia governed by laws ensuring absolute equality.

Forms

  • utopia

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Commentary

Often used in legal scholarship to explore normative concepts, utopia facilitates critical examination of justice and rights but rarely denotes practical law.

Uttering

/ˈʌtərɪŋ/

Definitions

  1. (n.) The criminal act of knowingly passing or publishing forged or counterfeit documents with intent to defraud.
    He was charged with uttering counterfeit currency at the trial.

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Commentary

Uttering specifically refers to the distribution or publishing aspect of a forged document offense, distinct from the forging itself.

Glossary – UT Terms