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LSDefine
Simple English definitions for legal terms
objective impossibility
Read a random definition: alternative-means doctrine
A quick definition of objective impossibility:
Objective impossibility means that something cannot happen or be done because of a fact or circumstance that is out of our control. This can excuse someone from doing something they promised to do in a contract, like if the thing they were supposed to do is no longer possible because it was destroyed or a law now prevents it. It can also apply to criminal law, where a fact or circumstance prevents someone from committing a crime. This is different from subjective impossibility, which is when someone is unable to do something because of their own limitations, and supervening impossibility, which is when something becomes impossible after a contract is made because of unforeseen circumstances.
A more thorough explanation:
Objective impossibility refers to a situation where something cannot occur, exist, or be done due to external factors beyond the control of the individual. This term is often used in the context of contracts and criminal law.
- If a contractor agrees to build a house for a client, but the house burns down before construction can begin, it would be objectively impossible for the contractor to fulfill their obligation.
- If a person agrees to deliver a package to a recipient, but a natural disaster makes it impossible to reach the destination, it would be objectively impossible for the person to fulfill their obligation.
- In criminal law, if a person attempts to steal from an empty wallet, it would be factually impossible to commit the crime, and therefore not a defense.
These examples illustrate how objective impossibility can excuse performance or prevent the commission of a crime due to circumstances beyond the control of the individual.