nonsuit

[ non-soot ]

/ nɒnˈsut /

Law.

a judgment given against a plaintiff who neglects to prosecute, or who fails to show a legal cause of action or to bring sufficient evidence.

to subject to a nonsuit.

Origin of nonsuit

1350–1400; non- + suit; replacing Middle English nounsuyt < Anglo-French nounsute

Then the Claimant's advisers, to avoid the inevitable verdict for their opponents, elected to be nonsuit.

Celebrated Claimants from Perkin Warbeck to Arthur Orton |Anonymous
In cases of nonsuit, and also when no cause of action is found, judgment is rendered against the plantiff for the costs.

The Government Class Book |Andrew W. Young
If a plaintiff does not answer or appear when his name is called in court, the justice enters judgment of nonsuit.

The Government Class Book |Andrew W. Young
Nonsuit for the plaintiffs—for the young student a hum of commendation.

A Book About Lawyers |John Cordy Jeaffreson

That was made at nisi prius in answer to a motion for a nonsuit in an action brought for an infringement of a patent right.

Monopolies and the People |D. C. Cloud

nonsuit

/ (nɒnˈsuːt, -ˈsjuːt) law /

an order of a judge dismissing a suit when the plaintiff fails to show he has a good cause of action or fails to produce any evidence

(tr) to order the dismissal of the suit of (a person)