Legal Definitions - procurator litis

A procurator litis refers to an individual who is authorized to represent another person in a legal dispute or lawsuit. Originating from Roman law, this term describes someone who manages and conducts a legal case on behalf of another party, essentially acting as their legal agent or representative.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• Business Representation: Imagine a small business owner who is unexpectedly called away on an urgent international trip while a minor contract dispute lawsuit against their company is ongoing. To ensure the case continues smoothly in their absence, they formally appoint their trusted legal counsel to handle all court appearances, filings, and negotiations on their behalf. In this scenario, the legal counsel acts as the procurator litis, managing the lawsuit for the business owner.

• Estate Management: Consider an elderly individual who is involved in a complex property dispute but, due to declining health and mobility, is unable to attend court hearings or manage the intricate legal paperwork. They grant a specific power of attorney to their adult child, authorizing the child to oversee the legal proceedings, hire attorneys, and make decisions related to the lawsuit on their behalf. The adult child, in this capacity, functions as the procurator litis for their parent in the property dispute.

• Absence and Agency: Suppose a prominent artist is sued for copyright infringement but is on an extended, pre-planned tour across several continents, making it impossible to directly participate in the legal defense. The artist formally empowers their long-standing business manager, who has a deep understanding of their work and contracts, to engage legal representation and direct the defense strategy in their stead. The business manager, acting with this authority, serves as the procurator litis, representing the artist's interests in the lawsuit.