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Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §47.10.44.pr

Action for Injury from Smoke or Objects Thrown at Neighbors

Passage 8046 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

Javolenus argues against Labeo's view, stating that an action for damages can be brought for smoke or objects thrown between neighbors, provided there is an intent to cause injury.

[IAUOLENUS libro nono ex posterioribus Labeonis. ] §47.10.44.prSi inferiorum dominus aedium superioris uicini fumigandi causa fumum faceret, aut si superior uicinus in inferiores aedes quid aut proiecerit aut infuderit, negat Labeo iniuriarum agi posse: quod falsum puto, si tamen iniuriae faciendae causa inmittitur.
[JAVOLENUS in the ninth book of Labeo's Posthumous Works.] If the owner of a lower building should make smoke for the purpose of smoking out his upper neighbor, or if the upper neighbor should either throw or pour anything into the lower building, Labeo denies that an action for damages can be brought; which I think is incorrect, provided, however, that it is introduced for the purpose of causing injury.

Notes

  1. §47.10.44.prsuperioris uicini fumigandi causa — uicini and fumigandi agree in gender, number, and case (masculine, singular, genitive), representing a gerundive construction. It means 'for the purpose of smoking out the upper neighbor.'
  2. §47.10.44.priniuriarum agi posse — iniuriarum agere is an idiomatic expression meaning 'to bring an action for damages,' where iniuriarum is a genitive of charge. agi is a passive infinitive used impersonally, meaning 'that an action can be brought.'
  3. §47.10.44.prquod falsum puto — The relative pronoun quod refers back to the entire preceding clause (Labeo's negative opinion) as its antecedent, serving as a relative connection (nexus relativus).
  4. §47.10.44.prsi tamen iniuriae faciendae causa inmittitur — tamen here does not express a strong contrast but rather restricts or qualifies the condition ('provided, however, that...'). The subject of inmittitur (is introduced) refers contextually to the smoke (fumus) or the things thrown (quid) mentioned earlier.

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §47.10.44.pr. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:47.10.44.pr

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