Legal Definitions - in delicto

In delicto is a Latin legal phrase that translates to "in fault" or "at fault." It describes a situation where an individual or party is responsible for a wrongdoing, an error, or a breach of duty. When someone is considered in delicto, they are identified as the party who has committed the wrongful act or is responsible for the failure.

• Example 1: Contractual Breach

  A graphic design firm agrees to create a new logo and branding package for a client by a specific date, with a clause stating that all final files must be delivered in high-resolution vector format. However, the firm delivers the files late and only provides low-resolution raster images, which are unsuitable for the client's printing needs.

  Explanation: In this scenario, the graphic design firm is in delicto because they are at fault for failing to meet both the deadline and the specified technical requirements of the contract. They committed the wrongful act of non-compliance with the agreement.

• Example 2: Negligent Damage

  During a home landscaping project, a contractor's employee accidentally drives a mini-excavator over the homeowner's sprinkler system, causing significant damage to the pipes and heads.

  Explanation: The contractor's employee, and by extension the contracting company, would be considered in delicto. Their negligent operation of the equipment directly caused the damage to the homeowner's property, making them the party at fault for the incident.

• Example 3: Regulatory Violation

  A pharmaceutical company is found by a regulatory agency to have knowingly misrepresented the results of clinical trials for a new drug, leading to its approval based on false data.

  Explanation: The pharmaceutical company is clearly in delicto because it is at fault for deliberately providing false information to a regulatory body. This constitutes a serious wrongdoing and a breach of ethical and legal duties.