Humanitext Reader

Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §9.4.37.pr

Acquisition of an Offending Slave and Theft Action

Passage 1618 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

Discusses the extinguishment of the action for theft when the victim acquires ownership of the offending slave, and how the legal outcome differs depending on whether this acquisition occurs before or after the joinder of issue (litis contestatio).

[TRYPHONINUS libro quinto decimo disputationum. ] §9.4.37.prSi alienus seruus furtum mihi fecerit, qui postea in meum dominium peruenerit, extinguitur furti actio, quae mihi conpetierat, nondum in iudicium deducta, nec si postea alienauero eum, quem ante litem contestatam emeram, furti actio restaurabitur: quod si post litem contestatam eum redemero, condemnandus erit uenditor,
[TRYPHONINUS, Disputations, Book XV.] If a slave belonging to another commits a theft against me, and later comes into my ownership, the action for theft which was available to me is extinguished, provided it has not yet been brought into court; and even if I subsequently alienate him, whom I had bought before the joinder of issue, the action for theft will not be restored. But if I purchase him after the joinder of issue, the seller must be condemned,

Notes

  1. 9.4.37.prnondum in iudicium deducta — The perfect passive participle deducta (feminine nominative singular) agrees with furti actio, functioning conditionally to mean "provided that it has not yet been brought into court" (i.e., before the joinder of issue).
  2. 9.4.37.prquod si — A transitional conjunction meaning "but if," introducing a contrasting hypothetical scenario (acquisition after the joinder of issue) to the preceding sentence.
  3. 9.4.37.prcondemnandus erit — A passive periphrastic conjugation consisting of the gerundive condemnandus and the future tense of esse (erit), expressing necessity or obligation ("must be condemned"). The subject is uenditor (the seller), indicating that the defendant's liability is not extinguished even if the plaintiff acquires the slave after the joinder of issue.

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §9.4.37.pr. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:9.4.37.pr

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