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Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §6.1.14.pr

Election of the Lex Aquilia Action and Possessor Acquittal

Passage 1085 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

This chunk discusses the acquittal of the possessor if the plaintiff chooses to bring an action under the Lex Aquilia, and the scope of the choice given to the plaintiff to prevent excessive recovery.

[PAULUS libro uicensimo ad edictum. ] §6.1.14.prQuod si malit actor potius legis Aquiliae actione uti, absoluendus est possessor.
[PAULUS, in the twentieth book on the Edict.] But if the plaintiff should prefer to use the action under the Lex Aquilia instead, the possessor must be acquitted.
itaque electio actori danda est, non ut triplum, sed duplum consequatur.
Therefore, a choice must be given to the plaintiff, not so that he may obtain threefold, but twofold.

Notes

  1. §6.1.14.prQuod si — The relative pronoun quod functions as a conjunction here with si, meaning 'But if' or 'And if', establishing a contrast or continuation in the argument.
  2. §6.1.14.prlegis Aquiliae actione uti — The infinitive uti of the deponent verb utor (to use) governs the ablative case. Here, legis Aquiliae actione (the action under the Lex Aquilia) is in the ablative.
  3. §6.1.14.prnon ut triplum, sed duplum consequatur — A subjunctive clause introduced by ut (consequatur is the present subjunctive of consequor), expressing the purpose or limitation of the choice given. It means 'not so that he may obtain threefold, but twofold', explaining the legal principle of preventing excessive recovery (threefold) through cumulative actions while securing appropriate relief.

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §6.1.14.pr. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:6.1.14.pr

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