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Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §44.4.1.pr-44.4.1.3

Purpose and Key Issues of the Defense of Fraud

Passage 7261 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

Paulus outlines his systematic discussion of the plea of malice (exceptio doli), including its purpose, application, targets, and time limits, and explains that the praetor introduced it to prevent anyone from benefiting from malice under the guise of civil law.

[PAULUS libro septuagensimo primo ad edictum. ] §44.4.1.prQuo lucidius intellegi possit haec exceptio, prius de causa uideamus, quare proposita sit, deinde, quemadmodum dolo fiat, per quae intellegemus, quando obstet exceptio: deinde aduersus quas personas locum habeat, nouissime inspiciemus, intra quae tempora competit exceptio.
[PAULUS, from the seventy-first book on the Edict.] In order that this exception may be more clearly understood, let us first look at the cause for which it was proposed, then, in what manner something is done with malice, through which we shall understand when the exception stands in the way; next, against which persons it takes place; and lastly, we shall examine within what periods of time the exception is competent.
§44.4.1.1Ideo autem hanc exceptionem praetor proposuit, ne cui dolus suus per occasionem iuris ciuilis contra naturalem aequitatem prosit.
Now, the praetor proposed this exception for this reason, lest anyone's own malice, through the opportunity of civil law, should benefit them against natural equity.
§44.4.1.2Sed an dolo quid factum sit, ex facto intellegitur.
But whether something has been done with malice is understood from the fact itself.
§44.4.1.3Et quidem dolo fit tam in contractibus quam in testamentis quam in legibus.
And indeed, acts are done with malice as well in contracts as in wills and in laws.

Notes

  1. 44.4.1.prQuo... possit — The conjunction quo (= ut eo) is used to introduce a purpose clause containing a comparative adverb (lucidius).
  2. 44.4.1.1ne cui — The word cui is the dative of the indefinite pronoun quis (shortened from aliquis after the negative conjunction ne), meaning 'lest to anyone'.
  3. 44.4.1.2quid — The word quid is the indefinite pronoun (shortened from aliquid in an indirect question introduced by the interrogative particle an). dolo is an ablative of means or cause meaning 'with malice' or 'fraudulently'.

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §44.4.1.pr-44.4.1.3. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:44.4.1.pr-44.4.1.3

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