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D&H: Abbreviation for "Dangerous and Hazardous" cargo.

Damages: The sum of money awarded to the injured party in a personal injury lawsuit.

Dead Locomotive: A type of train, which is cold and usually has its driving wheels disconnected from the cylinders.

Default Judgement: A judgment issued when the defendant offers no defense by not responding to the complaint. A judge may issue a judgment without the necessity of a trial.

Defendant: The person against whom a claim is brought.

Dependent: Any natural or legally adopted child residing at the same residence as injured employee who is under the age of 18, and/or any child certified legally handicapped over the age of 18.

Deponent: The person who testifies at a deposition.

Deposition: A pretrial discovery device in which one party verbally answers questions from the other party.

Directed Verdict: A judge's order to a jury to return a specified verdict, usually because one of the parties failed to prove its case.

Disability: A limitation of an employee's wage earning capacity in work suitable to his or her qualifications and training, resulting from a personal injury or work related disease. The establishment of disability does not create a presumption of wage loss.

Disabled Ship: When a ship is unable to sail efficiently or in a seaworthy state as a result of engine trouble, lack of officers or crew, damage to the hull or ship's gear.

Discovery: Methods and procedures by which information is made available to each party prior to trial. Discovery may include depositions, interrogations, requests for production of documents, and demands for independent medical examinations.

Dismissal With Prejudice: When a case is dismissed for good reason and the plaintiff is barred from bringing an action on the same claim.

Dismissal Without Prejudice: When a case is dismissed but the plaintiff is allowed to bring a new suit on the same claim.

Docket: A summary system kept by the clerk’s office which contains a record of all pleadings, court orders and other important activities in a case.

Due Process: The idea that laws and legal proceedings must be fair. The Constitution guarantees that the government cannot take away a person's basic rights to "life, liberty or property, without due process of law." Courts have issued numerous rulings about what this means in particular cases.

Duty To Warn: The legal obligation to warn people of a danger. Typically, manufacturers of hazardous products have a duty to warn customers of a product's potential dangers and to advise users of any precautions they should take.