Legal Definitions - loquela

Definition: Loquela (lə-kwē-lə), n. [Law Latin "talk"]

1. The oral discussions between the parties to a lawsuit leading to the issue, now called the pleadings.
2. Settlement discussions.

Examples:

• During the loquela, the plaintiff and defendant discussed the details of the case before the trial began.
• The lawyers engaged in loquela to try and reach a settlement outside of court.

Explanation:

Loquela refers to the oral discussions that take place between the parties involved in a lawsuit before the trial begins. These discussions are now known as pleadings. Additionally, loquela can also refer to settlement discussions between the parties involved in a lawsuit. The examples provided illustrate how loquela is used in both contexts. In the first example, the plaintiff and defendant engage in loquela to discuss the details of the case before the trial begins. In the second example, the lawyers engage in loquela to try and reach a settlement outside of court.