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Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §19.5.1.pr-19.5.1.2

Application of the Action in Factum When Specific Actions Fail

Passage 2888 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

Explains that a civil action 'in factum' is applicable when established common actions fail, illustrated by the examples of ship leasing and the delivery of an item for price evaluation.

[PAPINIANUS libro octauo quaestionum. ] §19.5.1.prNonnumquam euenit, ut cessantibus iudiciis proditis et uulgaribus actionibus, cum proprium nomen inuenire non possumus, facile descendemus ad eas, quae in factum appellantur.
[PAPINIANUS in the eighth book of Questions.] It sometimes happens that, when the established and common actions fail, since we cannot find a proper name, we easily descend to those which are called 'in factum'.
sed ne res exemplis egeat, paucis agam.
But lest the matter should lack examples, I will deal with it in a few words.
§19.5.1.1Domino mercium in magistrum nauis, si sit incertum, utrum nauem conduxerit an merces uehendas locauerit, ciuilem actionem in factum esse dandam Labeo scribit.
Labeo writes that a civil action 'in factum' should be given to the owner of the goods against the master of the ship, if it is uncertain whether he hired the ship or leased the goods to be carried.
§19.5.1.2Item si quis pretii explorandi gratia rem tradat, neque depositum neque commodatum erit, sed non exhibita fide in factum ciuilis subicitur actio,
Likewise, if anyone delivers a thing for the purpose of testing its price, it will be neither a deposit nor a loan for use, but if good faith is not shown, a civil action 'in factum' is available.

Notes

  1. §19.5.1.prcessantibus iudiciis proditis et uulgaribus actionibus — An ablative absolute construction with the present participle 'cessantibus', meaning 'when established and common actions are lacking (or fail)'. Here 'iudicia' is used in parallel with 'actiones' to denote judicial processes or actions.
  2. §19.5.1.1utrum nauem conduxerit an merces uehendas locauerit — An indirect question clause introduced by 'utrum... an...', explaining the content of 'incertum'. The verbs 'conduxerit' and 'locauerit' are in the perfect subjunctive. It represents the legal ambiguity between renting a ship ('conducere') and leasing goods for carriage ('locare') within the contract of letting and hiring (locatio conductio).
  3. §19.5.1.2non exhibita fide — An ablative absolute construction with the perfect participle 'exhibita', meaning 'when good faith (or trust regarding the agreed purpose of price evaluation and return) is not demonstrated'.

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §19.5.1.pr-19.5.1.2. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:19.5.1.pr-19.5.1.2

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