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IMPARLANCE Definition & Legal Meaning

Definition & Citations:

In early practice, imparlance meant time given to either of the partiesto an action to answer the pleading of the other. It thtis amounted to a continuance ofthe action to a further day. Literally the term signified leave given to the parties to talktogether; i. e.. with a view to settling their differences amicably. But In modern practiceit denotes a time given to the defendant to plead..4 general imparlance is the entry of a geneial prayer and allowance of time to pleadtill the next term, without reserving to the defendant the benefit of any exception ; sothat after such an imparlance the defendant cannot object to the jurisdiction of thecourt, or plead any matter in abatements This kind of imparlance is alwavs from oneterm to another. Colby v. Knapp, 13 N. II. 175; Mack v. Lewis, 67 Vt. 383, 31 Atl. S88.A general special imparlance contains a saving of all exceptions whatsoever, so thatthe defendant after this may plead not only in abatement, but he may also plead a pleawhich affects the jurisdiction of the court, as privilege. He cannot, however, plead atender, and that he was always ready to pay, because by craving time he admits thathe is not ready, and so falsifies his plea.A special imparlance reserves to the defendant all exceptions to the writ, hill, orcount; and therefore after it the defendant may plead in abatement, though not to thejurisdiction of the court. 1 Tidd, Pr. 462, 463.

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