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Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §2.13.9.pr-2.13.9.4

Exceptions to Compulsory Production and Obligations of Successors

Passage 361 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

Paulus explains that the compulsion to produce accounts under this edict does not apply when other actions (like mandate or guardianship) are available, and delineates the scope of application to the banker's successors and money-changers, as well as the requirement for claimants.

[PAULUS libro tertio ad edictum. ] §2.13.9.prQuaedam sunt personae, quas rationes nobis edere oportet nec tamen a praetore per hoc edictum compelluntur.
[PAULUS, on the Edict, book 3] There are certain persons who ought to produce accounts to us, but who are nevertheless not compelled by the praetor through this edict.
ueluti cum procurator res rationesue nostras administrauit, non cogitur a praetore per metum in factum actionis rationes edere: scilicet quia id consequi possumus per mandati actionem.
For example, when an agent has administered our property or accounts, he is not forced by the praetor, through fear of an action on the facts, to produce the accounts; of course, because we can obtain this through an action on mandate.
et cum dolo malo socius negotia gessit, praetor per hanc clausulam non interuenit: est enim pro socio actio.
And when a partner has conducted business with fraud, the praetor does not intervene through this clause; for there is an action on partnership.
sed nec tutorem cogit praetor pupillo edere rationes: sed iudicio tutelae solet cogi edere.
But neither does the praetor compel a guardian to produce accounts to his ward; but he is usually compelled to produce them by the action on guardianship.
§2.13.9.1Nihil interest, si successores aut pater aut dominus argentarii eiusdem fuerunt professionis: quia cum in locum et in ius succedant argentarii, partibus eius fungi debent.
It makes no difference whether the successors, or the father, or the master of the banker were of the same profession; because since they succeed to the place and right of the banker, they ought to perform his duties.
is autem, cui argentarius rationes suas legauit, non uidebitur contineri, quia iuris successor his uerbis significatur: non magis, quam si ei uiuus eas donasset.
But he to whom the banker bequeathed his accounts will not be deemed to be included, because a legal successor is signified by these words; no more than if he had donated them to him while alive.
sed nec heres tenebitur, cum nec possideat nec dolo malo fecerit: sed si ei, antequam eas legatario traderet, renuntiatum fuerit, ne ante eas tradat, tenebitur quasi dolo fecerit: item antequam eas tradat, tenebitur.
But neither will the heir be held liable when he neither possesses them nor has acted with fraud; but if, before he delivers them to the legatee, he has been notified not to deliver them beforehand, he will be held liable as if he had acted with fraud; likewise, before he delivers them, he will be held liable.
quod si nihil dolo fecerit, causa cognita legatarius cogendus est edere.
But if he has done nothing with fraud, the legatee, after an inquiry into the case, must be compelled to produce them.
§2.13.9.2Nummularios quoque non esse iniquum cogi rationes edere Pomponius scribit: quia et hi nummularii sicut argentarii rationes conficiunt, quia et accipiunt pecuniam et erogant per partes, quarum probatio scriptura codicibusque eorum maxime continetur: et frequentissime ad fidem eorum decurritur.
Pomponius writes that it is also not unjust for money-changers to be compelled to produce accounts; because these money-changers, like bankers, make up accounts, since they both receive money and pay it out in detail, the proof of which is chiefly contained in the writing of their books; and very frequently recourse is had to their honesty.
§2.13.9.3Ceterum omnibus postulantibus et iurantibus non calumniae causa petere rationes, quae ad se pertineant, edi iubet.
Moreover, for all those who make the request and swear that they are not seeking the production of accounts for the purpose of vexatious litigation, which accounts pertain to them, he orders them to be produced.
§2.13.9.4Ad nos enim pertinet non tantum cum ipsi contraximus uel successimus ei qui contraxit, sed etiam si is qui in nostra potestate est contraxit.
For they pertain to us not only when we ourselves have contracted or have succeeded him who contracted, but also if he who is in our power has contracted.

Notes

  1. §2.13.9.prper metum in factum actionis — The phrase 'in factum actionis' (action on the facts) is a single legal term, where the entire phrase in the genitive modifies 'metum' (fear). It means 'through fear of an action on the facts being brought'.
  2. §2.13.9.1non magis, quam si ei uiuus eas donasset — An elliptical construction where '[continebitur]' (will be included) is omitted after 'non magis'. It indicates that a legatee is not included in the scope of this edict (as a legal successor), just as he would not be if the accounts had been gifted to him inter vivos.
  3. §2.13.9.3omnibus postulantibus et iurantibus ... edi iubet — Although 'iubere' usually takes an accusative with infinitive, 'omnibus...' is in the dative, serving as a dative of advantage/reference with the passive infinitive 'edi' ('he orders [accounts] to be produced for all those who request...').

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §2.13.9.pr-2.13.9.4. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:2.13.9.pr-2.13.9.4

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