Legal Definitions - element

An element is a necessary component or requirement for making a claim or defense in court. It is also used to refer to an essential requirement of a General Plan.

• One element of negligence is the existence of a legal duty that the defendant owed to the plaintiff. For instance, if a driver hits a pedestrian, the driver owes a legal duty to the pedestrian to drive safely. If there is no evidence that the driver owed a legal duty to the pedestrian, then there is no negligence.
• In a General Plan, elements may include zones for different types of development, uses, traffic patterns, and future development.

The examples illustrate that an element is a necessary component or requirement for something to be considered valid or legally sound. In the case of negligence, the existence of a legal duty is an essential element that must be present for a plaintiff to make a claim. Similarly, in a General Plan, the inclusion of specific zones and development plans is an essential element that must be present for the plan to be effective.