Can someone help me with a legal term used regarding land back in the 1840's? Our Texas laws were based on the Spanish Code while Louisiana laws were based on the Napoleonic Code, and I believe the laws for Alabama and Georgia were based on the English Code. I have come across the term "FIFA" - (fieri facias) - which means one who has received judgment for debt or damage. When this is used in a statement such as: " Sheriff Sale -- 500 acres of John Doe FIFA John Smith" is John Doe the plaintiff suing or forcing the sale of land owned by John Smith the defendant for debt or damage? I know in Texas the plaintiff is named first. I asked a friend who has a title company and he didn't know as he had never seen "FIFA" used in Texas land records. Since this involved land in Alabama and Georgia, we decided it must be from the English Code and don't know if the same rules apply for the plaintiff to be named first and the defendant second. Thanks, Peggy Horton Marshall, Tx.