Legal Definitions - non vult contendere

Non vult contendere is a Latin legal term that translates to "he will not contest it" or "no contest." In practice, it refers to a type of plea entered by a defendant in a criminal case. When a defendant enters a non vult contendere plea, they are not admitting guilt, but they are also not disputing the charges. This allows the court to proceed as if the defendant were guilty, leading to a conviction and the imposition of penalties, without a formal admission of guilt from the defendant.

This plea is often used when a defendant wishes to avoid the time, expense, and uncertainty of a trial, but also wants to prevent an admission of guilt from being used against them in a subsequent civil lawsuit related to the same incident.

• Example 1: Minor Traffic Infraction

  Imagine a driver, Ms. Chen, receives a citation for failing to stop completely at a stop sign. She believes she did stop, but the officer disagrees. Rather than taking time off work to go to court and argue her case, which could be lengthy and still result in a conviction, Ms. Chen might enter a non vult contendere plea. By doing so, she accepts the fine and any points on her license without formally admitting she ran the stop sign. This concludes the matter efficiently, even though she didn't explicitly agree with the officer's assessment.

• Example 2: Misdemeanor Assault with Potential Civil Liability

  Mr. Davies is accused of a minor altercation that resulted in a misdemeanor assault charge. The alleged victim has indicated they plan to sue Mr. Davies for medical expenses and pain and suffering. If Mr. Davies were to plead guilty in the criminal case, that admission of guilt could be used as strong evidence against him in the civil lawsuit. To avoid this, he might enter a non vult contendere plea. He accepts the criminal penalties (e.g., a fine or probation) without admitting guilt, thereby making it harder for the alleged victim to automatically win the civil case based solely on his criminal plea.

• Example 3: Corporate Regulatory Violation

  A small manufacturing company, "EcoFab Inc.," is cited by an environmental agency for a minor violation related to waste disposal. The company believes it followed all regulations but recognizes that proving this in court would involve extensive legal fees, expert witness costs, and significant disruption to its operations. To resolve the issue quickly and avoid a protracted legal battle, EcoFab Inc. might enter a non vult contendere plea. This allows the agency to impose a fine, but the company avoids formally admitting guilt, which could potentially open them up to further scrutiny or private lawsuits from environmental groups or affected individuals who might use an admission of guilt as a basis for their claims.