Legal Definitions - alterum non laedere

The legal principle of alterum non laedere is a fundamental concept meaning "not to injure another." It represents a core duty within many legal systems to refrain from causing harm to others, whether through direct actions, negligence, or even harmful words. This principle emphasizes the responsibility of individuals and entities to conduct themselves in a manner that respects the well-being and rights of others, thereby avoiding injury to their person, property, or reputation.

Here are some examples illustrating this principle:

• Example 1: Negligent Driving

  A driver is speeding and texting on their phone, causing them to lose control of their vehicle and collide with another car, injuring its occupants. The driver's reckless actions directly caused physical harm and property damage to others.

  This scenario demonstrates alterum non laedere because the speeding and distracted driver failed in their duty to operate their vehicle safely, directly causing injury and damage to another party. Their negligence violated the principle of not causing harm.

• Example 2: Defamation of Character

  A person spreads false rumors online about a local restaurant owner, falsely accusing them of unsanitary practices. As a result, the restaurant experiences a significant drop in customers and suffers severe financial losses.

  This example illustrates alterum non laedere because the individual intentionally spread false information that caused significant reputational and economic injury to the restaurant owner. The harm was inflicted through words, violating the duty to not injure another.

• Example 3: Unsafe Product Design

  A manufacturer designs a children's toy with small, easily detachable parts that pose a choking hazard, despite knowing about the risk during product testing. A child later chokes on one of these parts and is seriously injured.

  Here, alterum non laedere is demonstrated by the manufacturer's failure to design a safe product, knowingly putting children at risk. Their decision to proceed with a hazardous design directly led to injury, violating their duty to not cause harm to consumers.