Simple English definitions for legal terms
Read a random definition: contumelious
The rule of inconvenience is a way of understanding laws that says a court should not interpret a law in a way that would hurt important things for the public or make things really hard for people, unless there is no other way to understand the law. This rule is also called "inconvenience."
The rule of inconvenience is a principle used in statutory interpretation. It states that a court should not interpret a law in a way that would harm an important public interest or cause a serious hardship for anyone, unless there is no other way to interpret the law.
For example, let's say there is a law that requires all businesses to close by 10pm. A restaurant owner argues that they should be allowed to stay open until midnight because they have a lot of customers who come in late. However, if the court were to interpret the law in this way, it could cause a serious inconvenience for nearby residents who need to sleep. Therefore, the court would likely apply the rule of inconvenience and uphold the 10pm closing time.
Another example could be a law that requires all drivers to wear seatbelts. A person who has a medical condition that makes it difficult to wear a seatbelt argues that they should be exempt from the law. However, if the court were to interpret the law in this way, it could jeopardize the important public interest of keeping people safe on the road. Therefore, the court would likely apply the rule of inconvenience and require the person to find an alternative solution, such as a medical exemption or a different mode of transportation.