Legal Definitions - ex rigore juris

Ex rigore juris is a Latin phrase that translates to "according to the strictness of the law." It refers to the application of legal rules and principles precisely as they are written, without any deviation, leniency, or consideration for fairness, equity, or extenuating circumstances. When a matter is decided ex rigore juris, it means the letter of the law is followed exactly, even if a more flexible interpretation might seem more just or reasonable in a particular situation.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• Contract Law Example: Imagine a construction contract that explicitly states a penalty of $1,000 per day for every day a project is delayed past the agreed completion date. The contractor finishes the project two days late due due to an unexpected, but minor, equipment malfunction that was beyond their control.

  How it illustrates ex rigore juris: Applying the contract ex rigore juris, the contractor would be strictly liable for a $2,000 penalty. The court would enforce the exact terms of the contract without considering the contractor's mitigating circumstances or whether the delay caused significant actual harm to the client. The strict wording of the penalty clause is upheld without exception.

• Statutory Interpretation Example: A local ordinance strictly prohibits parking within 10 feet of a fire hydrant, imposing a fixed fine for violations. A driver parks their car 9 feet, 6 inches from a hydrant, genuinely believing they were far enough away and not intending to obstruct it.

  How it illustrates ex rigore juris: A court applying the ordinanceex rigore juris would uphold the fine. The law specifies "within 10 feet," and 9 feet, 6 inches falls strictly within that boundary. There would be no room for argument about the driver's intent, their belief, or whether the parking truly obstructed the hydrant, as the rule is applied exactly as written, leaving no discretion.

• Tax Law Example: A specific tax regulation states that a certain business expense can only be deducted if it is supported by original paper receipts. A small business owner has bank statements and credit card records clearly proving the expense was incurred, but they have unfortunately lost the original paper receipts.

  How it illustrates ex rigore juris: If the tax authority applies the regulation ex rigore juris, the deduction would be denied. Even though the expense was genuinely incurred and other strong evidence exists, the strict requirement for "original paper receipts" is not met. No exceptions are made for alternative forms of proof, as the law is applied without flexibility.