Legal Definitions - ad sectam

Ad sectam is a Latin legal phrase that translates to "at the suit of" or "at the instance of." Historically, this term was used in legal records and case titles, particularly when cases were indexed or referred to by the defendant's name. It signifies that a legal action or proceeding has been initiated against a specific party by another.

Here are some examples to illustrate the meaning of ad sectam:

• Example 1: Civil Property Dispute

  Imagine a scenario where Mr. Arthur Jenkins is suing Ms. Brenda Carmichael over a disputed property boundary. If court records from an earlier era were organized by the defendant's name, the case might be listed as Carmichael ad sectam Jenkins. This notation clearly indicates that the legal action is "at the suit of Jenkins," meaning Jenkins is the party who initiated the lawsuit against Carmichael.

• Example 2: Historical Criminal Prosecution

  In historical legal documents, particularly in jurisdictions following English common law, a criminal prosecution might have been referenced as The King ad sectam Thomas Miller. This phrase would mean that the criminal proceedings were "at the suit of The King" (representing the state or sovereign) against Thomas Miller, who was the accused. It highlights that the state was the party bringing the charges against Miller.

• Example 3: Corporate Litigation Context

  Consider a situation where a small business, "Innovate Solutions LLC," is being sued by a larger corporation, "MegaCorp Inc.," for alleged patent infringement. While modern case titles would typically list the plaintiff first (e.g., MegaCorp Inc. v. Innovate Solutions LLC), the underlying concept of ad sectam helps understand the defendant's position. Innovate Solutions LLC is the party against whom the legal action is brought, meaning they are facing the claim "at the suit of MegaCorp Inc."