Legal Definitions - remissio injuriae

remissio injuriae

Remissio injuriae is a historical legal term originating from Latin, which translates to the forgiveness of the offense or the remission of an injury. It refers to the act by which an injured party chooses to pardon or overlook a wrong committed against them, thereby relinquishing their right to seek legal redress or compensation for that particular injury. Essentially, it signifies a decision to let go of a grievance and not pursue further action.

• Example 1: Neighborly Dispute
  Consider two neighbors, Alice and Bob. Bob's dog, usually well-behaved, digs up a small section of Alice's garden while she is away. Upon returning, Alice discovers the damage. Bob immediately apologizes, offers to repair the garden, and takes steps to ensure his dog cannot access her property again. Alice, seeing Bob's genuine remorse and proactive measures, decides not to pursue any claim for damages or legal action against him. Her decision to forgive the damage and not seek compensation is an act of remissio injuriae.

• Example 2: Minor Contractual Breach
  A small graphic design firm, "Creative Canvas," has a contract with a client, "Tech Solutions," to deliver a series of website mock-ups by a specific date. Due to an unexpected server outage, Creative Canvas delivers the mock-ups one day late. Although the contract specifies a penalty for late delivery, Tech Solutions, understanding the circumstances and recognizing that the delay was minimal and did not cause significant harm, informs Creative Canvas that they will waive the penalty and consider the breach forgiven. This act by Tech Solutions is an instance of remissio injuriae, as they are forgiving the minor contractual offense.

• Example 3: Workplace Misunderstanding
  During a busy period at work, an employee, David, accidentally misplaces an important document belonging to his colleague, Emily, causing her temporary inconvenience and stress. Once the document is found, David sincerely apologizes for his oversight and its impact. Emily, acknowledging that it was an honest mistake and that no lasting harm was done, accepts his apology and explicitly states that she considers the matter closed and holds no grudge. Emily's decision to forgive David's error and not escalate the issue to management or hold it against him demonstrates remissio injuriae.