Humanitext Reader

Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §47.1.1.pr-47.1.1.2

Delictual Actions and Liability of Heirs

Passage 7858 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

This section explains the limitations on bringing delictual actions against heirs, the actions that heirs can bring themselves, and affirms the principle that delictual liability follows the person of the offender.

[ULPIANUS libro quadragensimo primo ad Sabinum. ] §47.1.1.prCiuilis constitutio est poenalibus actionibus heredes non teneri nec ceteros quidem successores: idcirco nec furti conueniri possunt.
[ULPIAN, On Sabinus, Book 41.] It is a rule of civil law that heirs, and indeed other successors, are not liable to penal actions; therefore they cannot even be sued for theft.
sed quamuis furti actione non teneantur, attamen ad exhibendum actione teneri eos oportet, si possideant aut dolo fecerint quo minus possideant: sed enim et uindicatione tenebuntur re exhibita.
But although they are not liable to the action for theft, they ought nevertheless to be liable to the action to produce, if they are in possession or have by fraud brought it about that they are not in possession; but indeed they will also be liable to a vindication once the thing has been produced.
item condictio aduersus eos competit.
Likewise, an action for recovery lies against them.
§47.1.1.1Heredem autem furti agere posse aeque constat: exsecutio enim quorundam delictorum heredibus data est: ita et legis Aquiliae actionem heres habet.
On the other hand, it is equally established that an heir can bring an action for theft; for the enforcement of certain delicts is granted to heirs; thus an heir also has the action under the Lex Aquilia.
sed iniuriarum actio heredi non competit.
But the action for injuries does not lie for an heir.
§47.1.1.2Non tantum in furti, uerum in ceteris quoque actionibus, quae ex delictis oriuntur, siue ciuiles sunt siue honorariae, id placet, ut noxa caput sequatur.
Not only in the case of theft, but also in other actions arising from delicts, whether civil or praetorian, the rule is accepted that the liability follows the person.

Notes

  1. §47.1.1.prfurti conueniri — furti is a genitive of charge (genitivus criminis) used with the passive infinitive conueniri (to be sued, summoned), meaning 'to be sued for theft.'
  2. §47.1.1.prdolo fecerint quo minus possideant — The conjunction quo minus is introduced by an expression of hindrance or prevention (here, acting with fraud to prevent something), taking the subjunctive possideant to express a negative purpose or result ('so that they do not possess').
  3. §47.1.1.2noxa caput sequatur — A famous maxim of Roman law meaning that liability for a delict (noxa) follows the person (caput) of the offender. It indicates that the person who has power or ownership over the wrongdoer at the time of the action is liable (or must surrender the wrongdoer via noxious surrender).

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §47.1.1.pr-47.1.1.2. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:47.1.1.pr-47.1.1.2

Please note the AI-draft status of the translation and the date accessed.

Translation, notes and summary are AI-generated drafts, revised through reader feedback.