If you want huge law geek bonus points, answer this question, without looking it up or having studied or practiced in New England which is where the phrase seems to be used: What does "PPA" mean in a case caption (when it doesn't mean "phenylpropanolamine," the subject of a spate of recent litigation)?

I did not know the answer until this morning.

Yesterday, I ran across this bit of legalese for the first time, so I thought I'd note it -- it's Law French for "next friend," which is to say (to quote Black's), someone "who appears in a lawsuit to act for the benefit of an incompetent or minor plaintiff ...." The phrase, I'm pleased to say, is used only about 0.5% times as often as "next friend," but that still includes 20 cases (found via a Westlaw ALLCASES search) since 2005. So don't use it, but know it.

By the way, the phrase isn't French-by-way-of-Louisiana, but rather apparently French-by-way-of-1066 (or in any event by way of French influence on early English law). Of the 20 recent references, 3 were from Maryland, 6 from Connecticut, and 7 from Hawaii. It's also occasionally spelled "Prochein Amy" or "Prochain Amy."

Special bonus opaque legalism, which is noted in the question posed below: Some courts in New England states use the phrase "ppa" in case captions; this means "per prochein ami," or "by next friend." It's commonplace in Connecticut, not uncommon in Massachusetts, and seen occasionally in neighboring states.

Readers who have read this post chain can probably guess what this term means. Or maybe it's just this person. (Should I feel bad if this post knocks her off the top of the Google results list?) Or see this.