LITISPENDENCE. The part of an action being depending and undetermined; the time during which an action is pending1. See Lis pendens.
LITRE. A French measure of capacity. It is of the size of a decimetre, or one-tenth part of a cubic metre. It is equal to 61.028 cubic inches. Vide Measure.
LIVERY, Engl. law. 1. The delivery of possession of lands to those tenants2 who hold of the king in capite, or knight's service. 2. Livery was also the name of a writ3 which lay for the heir of age, to obtain the possession of seisin of his lands at the king's hands. F. N. B. 155. 3. It signifies, in the third place, the clothes given by a nobleman or gentleman to his servant.
LIVERY OF SEISIN, estates. A delivery of possession of lands, tenements4, and hereditaments, unto one entitled to the same. This was a ceremony used in the common law for the conveyance5 of real estate; and the livery was in deed, which was performed by the feoffor and the feoffee going upon the land, and the latter receiving it from the former; or in law, where the game was not made on the land, but in sight of it. 2 Bl. Com. 315, 316.
2. In most of the states, livery of seisin is unnecessary, it having been dispensed6 with either by express law or by usage. The recording7 of the deed has the same effect. In Maryland, however, it seems that a deed cannot operate as a feoffment, without livery of seisin. 5 Harr. & John. 158. Vide 4 Kent, Com. 381 2 Hill, Ab. c. 26, s. 4; 1 Misso. R. 553; 1 Pet. R. 508; 1 Bay's R. 107; 5 Har. & John. 158; Fairf. R. 318; Dane's Abridgment8, h. t.; and the article Seisin.
LIVRE TOURNOIS, com. law. A coin used in France before the revolution. It is to be computed9 in the ad valorem duty on goods, &c., at eighteen and a half cents. Act of March 2, 1798, s. 61, 1 Story's L. U. S. 626. Vide Foreign Coins.
LOADMANAGE, maritime10 law, contracts. The pay to loadsmen; that is, persons who sail or row before ships, in barks or small vessels11, with instruments for towing the ship, and directing her course, in order that she may escape the dangers in her way. Poth. Des Avaries, n. 147; Guidon de la Mer, ch. 14; Bac. Ab. Merchant and Merchandise, F.
LOAN, contracts. The act by which a person lets another have a thing to be used by him gratuitously12, and which is to be returned, either in specie or in kind, agreeably to the terms of the contract. The thing which is thus transferred is also called a loan. 1 Bouv. Inst. n. 1077.
2. A loan in general implies that a thing is lent without reward; but, in some cases, a loan may be for a reward; as, the loan of money. 7 Pet. R. 109.
3. In order to make a contract usurious, there must be a loan; Cowp. 112, 770; 1 Ves. jr. 527; 2 Bl. R. 859; 3 Wils. 390 and the borrower must be bound to return the money at all events. 2 Scho. & Lef. 470. The purchase of a bond or note is not a loan ; 3 Scho. & Lef. 469; 9 Pet. R 103; but if such a purchase be merely colorable, it will be considered as a loan. 2 John. Cas. 60; Id. 66; 12 S. & R. 46; 15 John. R. 44.
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