Legal Definitions - REA

While "REA" commonly abbreviates the Rural Electrification Administration, in civil and canon law, "rea" (from Latin) specifically refers to a defendant. This term designates the individual or entity against whom a legal claim is brought.

The term "REA" has two distinct meanings:

• First, "REA" is an acronym for the Rural Electrification Administration. This was a U.S. government agency established in 1935 with the mission of promoting and financing the electrification of rural areas across the United States. Its primary goal was to extend electricity services to farms and other remote locations that private utility companies had historically deemed unprofitable to serve.

• Second, in civil and canon law, rea refers to a defendant. This term specifically denotes the party against whom a legal action, claim, or charge is brought in a court of law or an ecclesiastical tribunal.

  Here are some examples illustrating the use of rea in this context:

  • Example 1 (Civil Law - Contract Dispute): A small business owner, Ms. Chen, initiates a lawsuit against a supplier for failing to deliver goods as stipulated in their contract. In this scenario, the supplier is the rea because they are the party against whom Ms. Chen has brought the legal action, alleging a breach of contract.

  • Example 2 (Canon Law - Ecclesiastical Tribunal): A priest faces an ecclesiastical tribunal convened by his diocese to address allegations of misconduct within his parish. Here, the priest would be considered the rea, as he is the individual against whom the allegations have been made and who must respond to the charges before the church court.

  • Example 3 (Civil Law - Personal Injury): Mr. Davis files a personal injury lawsuit against a driver who allegedly caused a car accident that resulted in Mr. Davis's injuries. The driver who is accused of causing the accident is the rea, as they are the party being sued by Mr. Davis for damages resulting from the collision.