Legal Definitions - inter eosdem

The Latin phrase inter eosdem translates to "between the same persons."

Historically, this term was used in legal contexts, particularly in judgments, records, or agreements, to emphasize that a particular action, ruling, or transaction involved the exact same individuals or entities who were parties to a previous, related matter. It highlights the continuity of the parties involved in a legal proceeding or relationship.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• Court Proceedings: Imagine a civil lawsuit where a plaintiff, Ms. Chen, sues a defendant, Mr. Davies, over a contract dispute. After the initial trial, the court issues a judgment. If Mr. Davies decides to appeal that judgment, the appellate court proceedings would still be considered inter eosdem. This means the appeal is taking place "between the same persons" – Ms. Chen and Mr. Davies – even though it's a new stage in the legal process. The parties to the dispute remain unchanged.

• Contractual Agreements: Consider two companies, "Alpha Corp" and "Beta Solutions," that entered into a comprehensive software development agreement. A year later, they decide to amend certain clauses of that original agreement to reflect new project requirements. The amendment document would be an agreement inter eosdem, as it is being made "between the same persons" (Alpha Corp and Beta Solutions) who were parties to the initial contract, simply modifying their existing legal relationship.

• Historical Legal Records: In ancient legal systems, if a dispute over property boundaries arose between two neighboring landowners, Lord Ashton and Lady Beaumont, and was recorded in a court ledger. If, several years later, a new ruling or settlement was issued specifically addressing that same boundary dispute, the record might note that the resolution was inter eosdem. This signifies that the final decision was rendered "between the same persons" – Lord Ashton and Lady Beaumont – who were the original parties to the land dispute, ensuring clarity about the continuity of the parties involved in the long-standing issue.