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Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §21.2.75.pr

Seller's Liability for Servitudes and Eviction in Land Sales

Passage 3156 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

The text discusses the liability of a seller regarding praedial servitudes (both as encumbrances and as rights of way), clarifying the conditions under which a seller is held liable for eviction or for the failure to provide a servitude, with reference to the opinions of Quintus Mucius and Sabinus.

[UENULEIUS libro sexto decimo stipulationum. ] §21.2.75.prQuod ad seruitutes praediorum attinet, si tacite secutae sunt et uindicentur ab alio, Quintus Mucius et Sabinus existimant uenditorem ob euictionem teneri non posse: nec enim euictionis nomine quemquam teneri in eo iure, quod tacite soleat accedere: nisi ut optimus maximusque esset traditus fuerit fundus: tunc enim liberum ab omni seruitute praestandum.
[VENULEIUS, Book 16 of the Stipulations.] As regards praedial servitudes, if they have followed tacitly and are claimed by another, Quintus Mucius and Sabinus are of the opinion that the seller cannot be held liable for eviction; for no one is held liable under the name of eviction in respect of that right which is accustomed to accrue tacitly, unless the land was delivered on the terms that it should be "best and greatest"; for in that case it must be guaranteed free from every servitude.
si uero emptor petat uiam uel actum, uenditorem teneri non posse, nisi nominatim dixerit accessurum iter uel actum: tunc enim teneri eum, qui ita dixerit.
But if the buyer should claim a right of way or a right of driving beasts, the seller cannot be held liable unless he has expressly stated that a path or a way for beasts would accrue; for in that case, he who has so stated is held liable.
et uera est Quinti Muci sententia, ut qui optimum maximumque fundum tradidit, liberum praestet, non etiam deberi alias seruitutes, nisi hoc specialiter ab eo accessum sit.
And the opinion of Quintus Mucius is correct, namely, that he who has delivered land as "best and greatest" should guarantee it free, but that other servitudes are not additionally owed, unless this has been specially added as an accessory by him.

Notes

  1. §21.2.75.proptimus maximusque — The phrase "optimus maximusque" (best and greatest) is a standard formula in Roman property transactions signifying that the land sold is free from any legal encumbrances or servitudes, representing complete and unencumbered ownership.
  2. §21.2.75.prpraestandum — The gerundive `praestandum [esse]` expresses impersonal necessity ("it must be guaranteed"). In context, the implicit subject is `fundus` (the land) from the previous clause, indicating the seller's obligation to guarantee that the land is free (`liberum`) from any servitudes.
  3. §21.2.75.prdeberi alias seruitutes — Meaning "that other servitudes are owed [to the buyer]." The text clarifies that the duty to deliver land as "best and greatest" (guaranteeing freedom from encumbrances) does not extend to an obligation to actively provide the buyer with other active servitudes (such as rights of way over neighboring land).

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §21.2.75.pr. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:21.2.75.pr

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