UBI LEX NON DISTINGUIT NEC NOS DISTINGUERE DEBEMOS Where the law makes no distinctions, one does

not distinguish. Where the law does not distinguish, courts should not distinguish. noscitur a sociis "It is known from its associates. It is a rule of interpretation that states that the meaning of unclear language in a contract or other legal document should be construed in light of the language surrounding it. Words must be construed in conjunction with the other words and phrases used in the text. Legislative intent must be ascertained from a consideration of the statute as a whole. The particular words, clauses and phrases should not be studied as detached and isolated expressions, but the whole and every part of the statute must be considered in fixing the meaning of any of its parts and in order to produce a harmonious whole. Where a particular word or phrase in a statement is ambiguous in itself or is equally susceptible of various meanings, its true meaning may be clear and specific by considering the company in which it is found or with which it is associated. Ejusdem Generis (eh-youse-dem generous) v adj. Latin for "of the same kind," used to interpret loosely written statutes. Where a law lists specific classes of persons or things and then refers to them in general, the general statements only apply to the same kind of persons or things specifically listed. Example: if a law refers to automobiles, trucks, tractors, motorcycles and other motor-powered vehicles, "vehicles" would not include airplanes, since the list was of landbased transportation. EXPRESSIO UNIUS EST EXCLUSION ALTERIUS The expression of one thing is the exclusion of another. Expressio unius est exclusio alterius is a Latin phrase that means express mention of one thing excludes all others. This is one of the rules used in interpretation of statutes. The phrase indicates that items not on the list are assumed not to be covered by the statute. When something is mentioned expressly in a statute it leads to the presumption that the things not mentioned are excluded. This is an aid to construction of statutes. Argumentum a contrario In logic, an argumentum a contrario (Latin: "appeal from the contrary" or "argument based on the contrary") denotes any proposition that is argued to be correct because it is not disproven by a certain case. It is the opposite of the analogy. Arguments a contrario are often used in the legal system, as a way to solve problems not currently covered by a certain system of laws. Although it might be used as a logical fallacy, arguments a contrario are not by definition fallacies. Casus Omissus Pro Omisso Habendus Est Casus Omissus Pro Omisso Habendus Est is a Latin maxim which means that A case omitted is to be held as intentionally omitted. It is a rule of statutory construction. If a person, object, or thing is omitted from being enumerated in a statute, it must be held or considered to have been omitted intentionally.

Ad proximum antecedens fiat relatio, nisi impediatur sententia. The antecedent bears relation to what follows next, unless it destroys the meaning of the sentence. REDDENDO SINGULA SINGULIS By rendering each his own; for example, when two descriptions of property are given together in one mass, both the next of kin and the heir cannot take, unless in cases where a construction can be made reddendo singula singulis, that the next of kin shall take the personal estate and the heir at law the real estate.