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The Digest of Justinian

§9.4.11.pr

Theft by Slave in Bona Fide Possession and Noxal Surrender

The passage discusses the liability for theft committed by a slave in the hands of a bona fide possessor, and how the plaintiff is protected against the true owner's claim after a noxal surrender.

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[ULPIANUS libro septimo ad edictum.]

[ULPIAN, Book 7 on the Edict]

§9.4.11.pr

​Bona fide serui possessor eius nomine furti actione tenebitur, dominus non tenetur. sed noxae dedendo non facit quidem actoris:1 cum autem coeperit istum seruum dominus uindicare, doli exceptione summouebitur uel officio iudicis consequetur,2 ut indemnis maneat.

​A bona fide possessor of a slave will be liable to an action for theft on his account, but the owner is not liable. However, by surrendering him for damage, he does not indeed make him the property of the plaintiff; but when the owner begins to claim that slave, he will be barred by the plea of fraud, or 〔the plaintiff〕 will obtain, through the office of the judge, that he remains indemnified.

Syntax notes2 items
  1. 9.4.11.practoris

    A possessive genitive with 'facit', meaning 'to make the property of the plaintiff'. Since a bona fide possessor lacks the authority to transfer ownership, his act of noxal surrender cannot make the plaintiff the true owner.

  2. 9.4.11.prconsequetur

    Third-person singular future of the deponent verb 'consequor'. The subject shifts from 'dominus' (the subject of 'summouebitur') to the plaintiff ('actor'). It indicates that the plaintiff will obtain, through the office of the judge ('officio iudicis'), the result of remaining indemnified ('ut indemnis maneat').

Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-07-12) · Revisions to the English translation and the original (1, latest 2026-11-15)
  • 2026-11-15 AI review — translation 1
urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:9.4.11.pr