Legal Definitions - medfee

The term medfee is a historical legal concept that refers to a payment or reward, often illicit or improper, given in exchange for something of significantly lesser value, or as a form of inducement or bribe. It highlights a situation where compensation is provided under circumstances that suggest an unfair exchange, an undue influence, or an unethical payment.

Here are some examples to illustrate the concept of medfee:

• Imagine a scenario in a historical town where a wealthy landowner wants to quickly secure a permit for a new building project, bypassing the usual lengthy approval process. He offers a significant sum of money, far exceeding any standard administrative fee, to a local council official. This payment, given specifically to expedite and guarantee a favorable outcome outside of normal procedures, would be considered a medfee because it's an improper reward intended to influence a decision unfairly, creating an unequal exchange of influence for money.

• Consider a historical court case where a defendant, facing a serious charge, secretly pays a substantial amount of money to a witness to provide false testimony that favors their defense. The payment is not for legitimate services but is a reward for dishonest actions designed to manipulate the judicial process. This illicit payment to sway the outcome of justice, where the "exchange" is for a perversion of truth, exemplifies a medfee.

• In a historical trading context, if a merchant wanted to ensure their goods were given preferential treatment at a busy port, perhaps allowing them to unload before others or avoid certain inspections, they might offer a "gift" of considerable value to a port authority. This "gift" is not a legitimate fee for service but an under-the-table payment to gain an unfair advantage. The disproportionate value of the "gift" compared to any legitimate service, and its intent to secure an improper benefit, would historically fall under the definition of a medfee.