Simple English definitions for legal terms
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Brevi manu is a Latin term that means "with a short hand." In Roman and civil law, it can mean two things: first, doing something directly and quickly, without taking a longer route; second, doing something without legal permission or authority. In Scotland, it was used to describe doing something without going to court. In Roman law, it referred to transferring ownership of something that was already in the buyer's possession, like a pledge or loan.
Definition: Brevi manu (bree-vIman-yoo) is a Latin term used in Roman and civil law. It means "with a short hand." It has two meanings:
In Roman law, brevi manu referred to the transfer of ownership of an item to someone who already had physical control of the item. For example, if someone borrowed a book and then bought it from the owner, the transfer of ownership would be brevi manu. In Scotland, the term usually meant performing an act without going to court. For instance, a landlord could seize a tenant's belongings for unpaid rent without involving a judge.
Examples:
These examples illustrate the two meanings of brevi manu. In the first example, the transfer of ownership was direct and straightforward because John already had the lawnmower. In the second example, the landlord acted without a legal warrant, which is another meaning of brevi manu.