Legal Definitions - sine numero

Sine numero is a Latin phrase that translates to "without number" or "countless." In legal contexts, it describes something that is immeasurable, unlimited, or so numerous that it is practically impossible to count or quantify.

Here are some examples illustrating the application of sine numero:

• Environmental Litigation: After a massive oil spill devastates a coastal ecosystem, affecting marine life, bird populations, and the delicate balance of the wetlands, the long-term ecological damage and the ripple effects on various species are deemed sine numero. This means the full extent of the harm is so vast and complex that it is beyond precise quantification, making it challenging to assign a definitive monetary value for all damages.

  Explanation: This example illustrates that the environmental harm is so widespread and interconnected that the individual instances of damage are too numerous to count, fitting the "countless" aspect of the term.

• Class Action Lawsuits: In a product liability case where a defective medical device has been implanted in millions of patients worldwide, causing a wide range of health complications, the potential individual claims for injury and suffering are considered sine numero. The sheer volume of affected individuals and the diverse nature of their injuries make it impossible to enumerate each specific instance of harm.

  Explanation: Here, sine numero emphasizes that the number of potential plaintiffs and the variety of their injuries are so extensive that they are "without number" or "unlimited" in their scope.

• Intellectual Property Infringement: When a popular digital artwork is illegally distributed across countless websites, social media platforms, and file-sharing networks, the exact number of unauthorized copies and subsequent downloads becomes sine numero. This makes it exceedingly difficult for the original creator to track and quantify the full extent of the copyright infringement and the resulting loss of revenue.

  Explanation: This scenario demonstrates that the instances of infringement are so widespread and untraceable that they are "beyond counting," aligning with the "countless" meaning of the term.