Legal Definitions - ultra valorem

Ultra valorem is a historical legal term derived from Latin, meaning "beyond the value." It describes a situation where a claim, payment, assessment, or action exceeds the actual, reasonable, or intended worth or scope of something.

Here are some examples illustrating this concept:

• Example 1: Excessive Damages Claim

  Imagine a historical legal dispute where a merchant sued a shipping company for the loss of a small crate of common goods during transit. If the merchant's claim for damages was for an amount equivalent to the value of an entire ship's cargo, a court might have historically deemed this demand to be ultra valorem. This means the compensation sought was far beyond the actual monetary value of the lost goods.

• Example 2: Unreasonable Taxation or Levy

  Consider a historical instance where a local authority imposed a special tax on landowners to fund the construction of a new public well. If the total amount collected from these landowners was vastly disproportionate to the actual cost of building the well, and significantly exceeded what was reasonably necessary, the tax could have been described as ultra valorem. It was an assessment that went beyond the true value or expense of the project it was meant to fund.

• Example 3: Authority Exceeding its Grant

  Suppose a historical royal decree granted a governor the authority to collect a modest fee for the use of a newly built market square, specifically to cover its maintenance costs. If the governor then began charging exorbitant fees that generated immense personal wealth, far surpassing the actual maintenance expenses, his actions could be considered ultra valorem. He would be exercising his granted authority in a manner that went beyond its intended and reasonable value or purpose.