Legal Definitions - reus

The term reus is a Latin word primarily used in Roman and civil law to describe a party involved in a legal matter. While it most commonly refers to a defendant in a lawsuit or an accused person in a criminal case, its meaning can extend to any individual or entity participating in a legal proceeding, whether as a plaintiff or defendant, or even a party to a contract who undertakes an obligation. Essentially, a reus is someone who is legally bound or implicated in a legal action or agreement.

• Example 1: Civil Defendant

  Imagine a situation where a homeowner, Ms. Rodriguez, sues a landscaping company for significant damage caused to her property during a tree removal service. In this civil lawsuit, the landscaping company, being the entity against whom the claim is brought and from whom damages are sought, would be considered the reus.

  This example illustrates how the landscaping company is the defendant, the party being accused of wrongdoing and against whom legal action is directed.

• Example 2: Party to a Contractual Obligation

  Consider a commercial agreement where a software development firm, "Tech Solutions Inc.," signs a contract to deliver a custom application to "Global Enterprises Ltd." by a specific date. If Tech Solutions Inc. fails to meet this deadline, thereby breaching its contractual duty, it could be referred to as the reus in the context of that specific obligation within the agreement.

  Here, Tech Solutions Inc. is the party that has taken on a specific legal obligation (to deliver the software) within a transaction, and is therefore implicated if that obligation is not met.

• Example 3: Criminal Accused

  In a criminal investigation, if local authorities formally charge Mr. Henderson with embezzlement after discovering irregularities in company accounts, he becomes the accused person facing prosecution by the state. In this context, Mr. Henderson would be the reus.

  This demonstrates how Mr. Henderson is the individual who is formally accused of a crime and is subject to criminal proceedings.