Legal Definitions - suum cuique tribuere

Suum cuique tribuere is a Latin legal maxim that embodies a fundamental principle of justice: to give each person what is rightfully theirs or to render to every person their due. It emphasizes the idea that individuals should receive what they are owed, whether it be a benefit, a right, or a consequence, based on established rules, agreements, or moral principles.

• Example 1: A freelance graphic designer completes a logo design project for a client, delivering the final files exactly as specified in their contract. According to the principle of suum cuique tribuere, the client is obligated to pay the designer the agreed-upon fee for their work.

  This illustrates the term because the designer has fulfilled their part of the agreement, and therefore, it is "their due" to receive the payment stipulated in the contract. The client, in turn, renders what is due to the designer.

• Example 2: In a civil lawsuit, a court finds that a manufacturing company's defective product caused significant injury to a consumer. The court orders the company to pay the consumer a specific amount for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

  Here, suum cuique tribuere means that the injured consumer is receiving what is rightfully owed to them as compensation for the harm caused by the company's negligence. The court's judgment ensures that the company renders the consumer their due.

• Example 3: A person passes away, leaving behind a valid will that clearly outlines how their estate (assets and property) should be distributed among their heirs. The executor of the will meticulously follows these instructions, ensuring that each named beneficiary receives the specific assets or portions of the estate designated for them.

  This scenario exemplifies suum cuique tribuere because the executor is ensuring that each heir receives precisely what is due to them according to the deceased's wishes as legally expressed in the will. It upholds the principle of giving each person their rightful inheritance.