[font=""times new roman""]malfeasance: Doing something that is illegal. This term is often used when a professional or public official commits an illegal act that interferes with the performance of his or her duties. For example, an elected official who accepts a bribe in exchange for political favors has committed malfeasance.
misdemeanor: A crime less serious than a felony. Petty theft, first-time drunk driving and leaving the scene of an accident are all common misdemeanors.
misfeasance: Performing a legal action in an improper way. This term is frequently used when a professional or public official does his job in a way that is not technically illegal, but is nevertheless mistaken or wrong.
lex loci: Latin for the ""law of the place."" It means local law.
libel: An untruthful statement about a person, published in writing or through broadcast media, that injures the person's reputation or standing in the community
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