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Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §2.7.1.pr-2.7.1.2

Liability for the Forcible Rescue of a Summoned Person

Passage 297 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

The praetor's edict concerning the forcible rescue of summoned persons is discussed, explaining liability issues when slaves are involved or when the rescued person could not legally be summoned.

[ULPIANUS libro quinto ad edictum. ] §2.7.1.prHoc edictum praetor proposuit, ut metu poenae compesceret eos, qui in ius uocatos ui eripiunt.
[ULPIANUS, in the fifth book on the Edict.] The praetor published this edict in order to restrain, by fear of punishment, those who rescue by force persons who have been summoned to court.
§2.7.1.1Denique Pomponius scribit serui quoque nomine noxale iudicium reddendum, nisi sciente domino id fecit: tunc enim sine noxae deditione iudicium suscipiet.
Furthermore, Pomponius writes that a noxal action must also be granted on account of a slave, unless he did it with the knowledge of his master; for in that case, the master will undergo the trial without the option of noxal surrender.
§2.7.1.2Ofilius putat locum hoc edicto non esse, si persona, quae in ius uocari non potuit, exempta est, ueluti parens et patronus ceteraeque personae: quae sententia mihi uidetur uerior.
Ofilius thinks that there is no room for this edict if a person who could not be summoned to court was rescued, such as a parent, a patron, and other such persons; which opinion seems to me to be more correct.
et sane si deliquit qui uocat, non deliquit qui exemit.
And indeed, if he who summons commits a wrong, he who rescues does not commit a wrong.

Notes

  1. §2.7.1.1serui quoque nomine — nomine is an ablative meaning 'in the name of' or 'on account of', here meaning 'on account of a slave'. It indicates that if a slave rescues a summoned person, a noxal action (iudicium noxale) can be brought against the master.
  2. §2.7.1.1nisi sciente domino id fecit — The conjunction nisi (unless) is followed by the ablative absolute sciente domino (with the master knowing). The subject of fecit is implied from serui. If the master did have knowledge, this exception is excluded, and the subsequent rule under tunc enim (direct liability without the option of noxal surrender) applies.
  3. §2.7.1.2locum hoc edicto non esse — An accusative-with-infinitive clause serving as the object of putat. The dative hoc edicto (for this edict) is used with locum esse (there is room), meaning 'there is no room for this edict' (the edict does not apply).
  4. §2.7.1.2quae sententia mihi uidetur uerior — The relative adjective quae connects the sentence (linking relative) referring back to the entire opinion of Ofilius. The comparative uerior means 'more correct' or 'more sound' rather than literally 'truer', in contrast to other possible views.

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §2.7.1.pr-2.7.1.2. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:2.7.1.pr-2.7.1.2

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