Legal Definitions - ex continenti

ex continenti is a Latin legal phrase that translates to "immediately" or "without any delay."

It is used to describe an action or event that must occur right away, with no intervening time or pause.

• Example 1: Contractual Obligation

  Imagine a business contract for the sale of goods. The agreement states that upon receipt of the final payment, the seller must release the goods for shipment ex continenti. This means the seller cannot wait several days to process the shipment; they are legally obligated to initiate the shipping process immediately after receiving the payment, without any undue delay.

• Example 2: Court Order

  During a court proceeding, if a witness becomes unruly or refuses to answer a direct question, the judge might order the bailiff to remove the witness from the courtroom ex continenti. This signifies that the witness must be escorted out immediately, without being given time to argue, gather personal items, or delay their departure.

• Example 3: Regulatory Compliance

  A government environmental agency discovers that a manufacturing plant is discharging untreated waste into a local river, violating environmental regulations. The agency issues an emergency order requiring the plant to cease the polluting activity ex continenti. This mandates an immediate halt to the discharge, emphasizing that the plant cannot continue the activity for even a short period while planning a solution; it must stop at once.