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Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §21.2.56.pr-21.2.56.7

Agreed Liability for Eviction, Arbitrations, and Notice Rules

Passage 3137 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

This text discusses the validity of agreements concerning different levels of eviction liability, the effect of adverse arbitration judgments, partial eviction of a slave, the buyer's failure to acquire by usucapion, notices of eviction given to the seller's agent or prevented by the seller, and notices to a ward in the absence of a tutor.

[PAULUS libro secundo ad edictum aedilium curulium. ] §21.2.56.prSi dictum fuerit uendendo, ut simpla promittatur, uel triplum aut quadruplum promitteretur, ex empto perpetua actione agi poterit.
[PAULUS, Book II on the Edict of the Curule Aediles.] If it was agreed in the sale that a single fold should be promised, or that a triple or quadruple amount should be promised, an action can be brought at any time on the basis of purchase.
non tamen, ut uulgus opinatur, etiam satisdare debet qui duplam promittit, sed sufficit nuda repromissio, nisi aliud conuenerit.
However, contrary to the common opinion, the person who promises double is not also required to provide security, but a bare promise is sufficient, unless it has been otherwise agreed.
§21.2.56.1Si compromisero et contra me data fuerit sententia, nulla mihi actio de euictione danda est aduersus uenditorem: nulla enim necessitate cogente id feci.
If I enter into a submission to arbitration and judgment is given against me, no action on eviction should be granted to me against the seller; for I did this under no compelling necessity.
§21.2.56.2In stipulatione duplae cum homo uenditur partis adiectio necessaria est, quia non potest uideri homo euictus, cum pars eius euicta est.
In a stipulation for double value when a slave is sold, the addition of a clause regarding a part is necessary, because a slave cannot be deemed to have been evicted when only a part of him is evicted.
§21.2.56.3Si, cum possit usu capere emptor, non cepit, culpa sua hoc fecisse uidetur: unde si euictus est seruus, non tenetur uenditor.
If, although the buyer was able to acquire by usucapion, he did not do so, he is deemed to have done this through his own fault; hence, if the slave is evicted, the seller is not liable.
§21.2.56.4Si praesente promissore qui de euictione promisit et non ignorante procuratori denuntiatum sit, promissor nihilo minus tenetur.
If notice is given to the agent while the promisor who promised against eviction is present and not ignorant of it, the promisor is nevertheless liable.
§21.2.56.5Simili modo tenetur et qui curauit, ne sibi denuntiari possit.
In like manner, he also is liable who took care that notice could not be given to him.
§21.2.56.6Sed et si nihil uenditore faciente emptor cognoscere ubi esset non potuit, nihilo minus committitur stipulatio.
But even if, though the seller did nothing to cause it, the buyer could not find out where he was, the stipulation is nevertheless forfeited.
§21.2.56.7Pupillo etiam sine tutoris auctoritate posse denuntiari, si tutor non apparet, ex duplae stipulatione benignius receptum esse Trebatius ait.
Trebatius says that it has been more benevolently accepted under the stipulation for double value that notice can be given to a ward even without the authorization of his tutor, if the tutor does not appear.

Notes

  1. §21.2.56.pruendendo — The gerund `uendendo` functions here as an ablative of attendant circumstance ("in selling" or "at the time of sale") or potentially as a dative of purpose ("for selling").
  2. §21.2.56.4procuratori — `procuratori` (dative) refers to the agent of the seller (promissor). Although the notice (denuntiatio) of eviction should normally be given to the seller himself, if it is given to his agent while the seller is present and aware, the notice is deemed valid and the seller remains liable.
  3. §21.2.56.7benignius — The comparative `benignius` ("more benevolently" or "more equitably") indicates a flexible or lenient interpretation adopted for the sake of transactional convenience or buyer protection, contrasting with strict legal doctrines where a ward cannot participate in proceedings without a tutor's authorization.

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §21.2.56.pr-21.2.56.7. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:21.2.56.pr-21.2.56.7

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