De novo is used to refer to a trial which starts over, which wipes the slate clean and begins all over again, as if any previous partial or complete hearing had not occurred.
REFERENCES:
This definition was quoted with approval by Justice Gruchy of the Nova Scotia Supreme Court in Keating v. Nova Scotia (Attorney General) 2001 NSSC 85; also published at 2001 CarswellNS 206, 194 NSR 2d 290; 606 APR 290 and 42 Admin. LR 3d 66.