Gale Encyclopedia of American Law Volume 4 P4 fully illuminates today's leading cases, major statutes, legal terms and concepts, notable persons involved with the law, important documents and more. Legal issues are fully discussed in easy-to-understand language, including such high-profile topics as the Americans with Disabilities Act, capital punishment, domestic violence, gay and lesbian rights, physician-assisted suicide and thousands more. | 18 DRAFTER A draft may be payable to a designated payee or to the bearer the person who has possession of the draft at the time it is presented to the drawee for payment pursuant to the drawer s directions. A draft is sometimes synonymous with a BILL OF EXCHANGE COMMERCIAL PAPER or NEGOTIABLE INSTRUMENT. DRAFTER The person who draws or frames a legal document such as a will pleading conveyance or contract. One who writes an original legislative bill for the . Senate or House of Representatives is called the drafter of that bill. DRAIN A trench or ditch to convey water from wet land a channel through which water may flow off. The word has no technical legal meaning. Any hollow space in the ground natural or artificial where water is collected and passes off is a ditch or drain. Also sometimes the easement or servitude acquired by grant or prescription that consists of the right to drain water through another s land. A number of states have drainage statutes in order to protect the welfare of the public. Such statutes provide for the construction of drains in areas that are swampy marshy or overflowed past their natural boundaries. Also contained in drainage statutes are provisions that regulate the creation and organization of drainage districts. The state legislature has the discretion to decide which lands will be included within a particular drainage district. For example such a district might include territory of a city or village or property in two or more counties. The specific plan for the construction of a drain is within the discretion of local authorities as modified by limitations or restrictions set forth by state drainage statutes. Only land that will be benefited through drainage improvements should properly be included within a drainage district. In certain instances liability has been extended to drainage districts that have failed to maintain existing drains. In order to remedy this situation in some cases landowners are given a certain portion .
