Simple English definitions for legal terms
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Term: PER INFORTUNIUM
Definition: Per infortunium means "by misadventure" in Latin. In common law, if someone killed another person by accident or in self-defense, they were still considered guilty of unlawful homicide and needed a royal pardon to avoid punishment. Even with a pardon, they could still lose their property and be sued for compensation by the victim's family.
Definition: Per infortunium (pronounced puh-r in-for-t(y)oo-nee-uhm) is a Latin term that means "by misadventure." In common law, if one person killed another per infortunium, a conviction and royal pardon were necessary even when there was no fault.
Example: If someone accidentally caused the death of another person while driving, it could be considered per infortunium. Even though there was no intention to harm anyone, the person would still need to seek a pardon from the king to avoid punishment.
Explanation: This example illustrates how per infortunium applies to accidental deaths. Even if there was no intention to harm anyone, the person responsible for the death would still be held accountable and require a pardon to avoid punishment.
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