Legal Definitions - pro re nata

Pro re nata is a Latin term used to describe actions or decisions made only when an immediate, unforeseen situation or emergency arises. It signifies a response that is not routine or planned, but rather necessitated by particular circumstances at a specific moment.

• Example 1: Corporate Governance

  A company's board of directors holds an unscheduled meeting to discuss an urgent, unexpected cybersecurity breach that has compromised sensitive customer data. This meeting is convened pro re nata because it was not part of their regular quarterly schedule but was called specifically to address the immediate crisis that had arisen.

• Example 2: Public Administration

  A city council passes an emergency ordinance allowing for the immediate requisition of private property to establish temporary shelters after a sudden, devastating natural disaster renders thousands homeless. This ordinance is enacted pro re nata, as it is a direct, urgent response to an unforeseen catastrophe rather than a standard legislative initiative.

• Example 3: Legal Proceedings

  A court issues a temporary injunction to prevent the immediate destruction of critical evidence in a lawsuit, following an urgent application from one of the parties who discovered the imminent threat. This injunction is granted pro re nata, meaning it was issued specifically due to the emergent need to preserve evidence, outside of the usual procedural timeline for such requests.