Legal Definitions - riens en arrière

Riens en arrière is a historical legal defense originating from Law French, meaning "nothing in arrear." It was a plea used by a defendant in a lawsuit where they were accused of owing money for overdue accounts or unpaid balances. By entering a plea of riens en arrière, the defendant asserted that there were no outstanding debts or amounts due to the plaintiff, essentially denying the claim that any money was owed.

• Example 1: Rental Dispute

  Imagine a landlord in a historical context suing a former tenant, claiming the tenant owes several months of back rent. The tenant, having meticulously kept records and believing they paid all rent due before vacating the property, would historically enter a plea of riens en arrière. This plea would assert that, according to their records and understanding, no rent was outstanding or "in arrear."

• Example 2: Merchant Account Balance

  Consider a scenario where a supplier of goods sues a shop owner, alleging an unpaid balance on a long-standing account for various items delivered over the past year. The supplier claims the shop owner has failed to settle several invoices. The shop owner, after reviewing their own ledger and believing all transactions have been fully paid, would historically respond with a plea of riens en arrière, asserting that there was "nothing in arrear" on their account with the supplier.

• Example 3: Loan Repayment Claim

  Suppose a lender historically sued an individual, claiming the individual had failed to make the last two scheduled payments on a personal loan. The individual, possessing receipts or other proof of payment for all installments, would historically use the plea of riens en arrière. This would be their formal legal assertion that no loan payments were overdue or outstanding, meaning they owed "nothing in arrear" on the loan.