Contra Proferentem Interpretation of Ambiguous Terms

Notes

1. §2.14.39.prUeteribus — Masculine plural dative of the adjective uetus used substantively. It functions as the dative with placet, meaning 'it is accepted by the ancient jurists' (referring to Republican or early classical jurists).
2. §2.14.39.prlegem — Here lex does not mean a 'statute' enacted by the state, but rather a 'contractual term' or 'condition' (lex contractus) binding between the parties.
3. §2.14.39.prin quorum fuit potestate — The relative pronoun quorum refers back to uenditori et qui locauit (the seller and the lessor). The idiom in potestate alicuius esse means 'to be within one's power or control.' The real subject of fuit is the following infinitive phrase legem apertius conscribere (to draft the term more clearly).