Litigation

  • Actore non probante, reus absolvitur. If the plaintiff does not prove his case, the defendant is acquitted.
  • Actus curiae neminem gravabit. An act of the court will prejudice no one.
  • Boni judicis est causas litium dirimere. It is the role of a good judge to remove causes of litigation.
  • Boni judicis est lites dirimere, ne lis ex lite oriatur. It is the role of a good judge to dispose of lawsuits so that one suit should not grow from another. 5 Coke 31a.
  • Bonum necessarium extra terminos necessitatis non est bonum. A thing good from necessity is not good beyond the limits of the necessity.
  • Breve ita dicitur, quia rem de qua agitur, et intentionem petentis, paucis verbis breviter enarrat. A writ is called a “breve” because it briefly states, in few words, the matter in dispute, and the object of the party seeking relief.
  • Breve judiciale debet sequi suum originale, et accessorium suum principale. A judicial writ ought to follow its original, and an accessory its principal.
  • Breve judiciale non cadit pro defectu formae. A judicial writ does not fail for a defect of form.
  • Brevia, tam originalia quam judicialia, patiuntur anglica nomina. Writs, original as well as judicial, bear English names.
  • Certa debet esse intentio et narratio et certum fundamentum et certa res quae deducitur in judicium. The design and narration ought to be certain, the foundation certain, and the matter certain that is brought into court to be tried.
  • Circuitus est evitandus; et boni judicis est lites dirimere, ne lis ex lite oriatur. Circuity is to be avoided; and it is the role of a good judge to determine (or dispose of) litigations so that one lawsuit may not arise from another.
  • Concordia parvae res crescunt et opulentia lites. Small means increase by concord and litigations by opulence.
  • Contestatio litis eget terminos contradictarios. An issue requires terms of contradiction. • That is, there can be no issue without an affirmative on one side and a negative on the other).
  • Curia novit jura. The court knows the laws.
  • Cursus curiae est lex curiae. The practice of the court is the law of the court.
  • Debet esse finis litium. There ought to be a limit to litigation.
  • Ea quae in curia nostra rite acta sunt debitae executioni demandari debent. Those things that are properly transacted in our court ought to be committed to a due execution.
  • Expedit rei publicae ut sit finis litium. It is to the advantage of the state that there should be a limit to litigation.
  • Finis finem litibus imponit. A fine puts an end to litigation.
  • Interest reipublicae ut sit finis litium. It is in the interest of the state that there be a limit to litigation.
  • Invitus nemo rem cogitur defendere. Nobody is compelled to make a defense if he is unwilling. Dig. 50.17.156pr.
  • Iura novit curia. The court knows the laws.
  • Lex non requirit verificari quod apparet curiae. The law does not require that to be proved which is apparent to the court.
  • Litis nomen omnem actionem significat, sive in rem, sive in personam sit. The word “lis” (a lawsuit) signifies every action, whether it is in rem or in personam.
  • Multitudo imperitorum perdit curiam. A multitude of ignorant practitioners destroys a court.
  • Nec curia deficeret in justitia exhibenda. Nor should the court be deficient in showing justice.
  • Nihil habet forum ex scena. The court has nothing to do with what is not before it.
  • Nihil in lege intolerabilius est (quam) eandem rem diverso jure censeri. Nothing in law is more intolerable than that the same case should be subject (in different courts) to different views of the law.
  • Pendente lite nihil innovetur. During litigation, let nothing be changed.
  • Potius ignoratio juris litigiosa est quam scientia. Ignorance of the law leads to litigation more than knowledge of the law. Cicero, De Legibus 1.6.18.
  • Prosecutio legis est gravis vexatio; executio legis coronat opus. Litigation is a heavy hardship, but execution of the law crowns (or rewards) the work.
  • Quae in curia acta sunt rite agi praesumuntur. What is done in court is presumed to be rightly done.
  • Quae in curia regis acta sunt rite agi praesumuntur. Things that are done in the king’s court are presumed to be rightly done.
  • Quod constat curiae, opere testium non indiget. What appears true to the court needs not the help of witnesses.
  • Secta est pugna civilis, sicut actores armantur actionibus, et quasi accinguntur gladiis, ita rei (e contra) muniuntur exceptionibus, et defenduntur quasi clypeis. A suit is a civil battle; just as the plaintiffs are armed with actions and, as it were, girded with swords, so (against them) the defendants are fortified with pleas, and defended as though by shields.