Humanitext Reader

Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §12.7.3.pr

Relief from Obligations Incurred Without Cause or in Excess

Passage 2046 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

Explains that a person who has bound himself without cause can use a condictio of an uncertain thing to obtain either a release from the entire obligation or a reduction of the excess amount promised.

[IULIANUS libro octauo digestorum. ] §12.7.3.prQui sine causa obligantur, incerti condictione consequi possunt ut liberentur: nec refert, omnem quis obligationem sine causa suscipiat an maiorem quam suscipere eum oportuerit, nisi quod alias condictione id agitur, ut omni obligatione liberetur, alias ut exoneretur: ueluti qui decem promisit, nam si quidem nullam causam promittendi habuit, incerti condictione consequitur, ut tota stipulatio accepto fiat, at si, cum quinque promittere deberet, decem promisit, incerti eonsequetur, ut quinque liberetur.
[JULIANUS, in his eighth book of the Digests.] Those who are bound without cause can by a condictio of an uncertain thing obtain their release; nor does it matter whether a person undertakes the entire obligation without cause or a greater one than he ought to have undertaken, except that in the one case the object of the condictio is to be released from the entire obligation, in the other to be relieved of a part: for example, one who has promised ten; for if indeed he had no cause for promising, he obtains by the condictio of an uncertain thing that the entire stipulation is discharged by formal release; but if, when he ought to have promised five, he promised ten, he will obtain that he is released to the extent of five.

Notes

  1. §12.7.3.princerti condictione — Refers to the condictio incerti (condictio of an uncertain thing). While a standard condictio seeks a specific thing or amount of money, a condictio incerti is employed when the objective is an act, such as obtaining a release from an obligation (liberatio).
  2. §12.7.3.praccepto fiat — Refers to the discharge of an obligation by acceptilatio (a formal verbal release used to extinguish a stipulatio). It derives from the expression accepto ferri (to be entered as received).
  3. §12.7.3.preonsequetur — A scribal error (typo) for consequetur (future active third-person singular of consequi, or subjunctive). Corresponding to the earlier consequitur (present tense), it means 'he will obtain'.

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §12.7.3.pr. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:12.7.3.pr

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