De in integrum restitutionibus
(Concerning complete restitution.)
1 Ulpianus libro undecimo ad edictum. Utilitas huius tituli non eget commendatione, ipse enim se ostendit. nam sub hoc titulo plurifariam praetor hominibus vel lapsis vel circumscriptis subvenit, sive metu sive calliditate sive aetate sive absentia inciderunt in captionem.
1 Ulpianus, On the Edict, Book XI. The usefulness of this Title needs no commendation, for it speaks for itself. Under it the Prætor in many ways comes to the relief of parties who have made mistakes, or have been cheated, and who, through intimidation, cunning, youth, or absence, have been overreached.
2 Paulus libro primo sententiarum. Sive per status mutationem aut iustum errorem.
2 Paulus, Sentences, Book I. Or through a change of condition, or excusable error.
3 Modestinus libro octavo pandectarum. Omnes in integrum restitutiones causa cognita a praetore promittuntur, scilicet ut iustitiam earum causarum examinet, an verae sint, quarum nomine singulis subvenit.
3 Modestinus, Pandects, Book VIII. All persons are promised complete restitution by the Prætor when proper cause is shown; so that he may examine the justice of the case, and ascertain whether it belongs to that class to which he can afford relief.
4 Callistratus libro primo edicti monitorii. Scio illud a quibusdam observatum, ne propter satis minimam rem vel summam, si maiori rei vel summae praeiudicetur, audiatur is qui in integrum restitui postulat.
4 Callistratus, Monitory Edict, Book I. I know that it has been held by some authorities that a party who applies for complete restitution shall not be heard where some very insignificant affair or sum is involved, if this would prejudice the hearing of some more important matter, or the collection of a larger sum.
5 Paulus libro septimo ad edictum. Nemo videtur re exclusus, quem praetor in integrum se restituturum polliceatur.
5 Paulus, On the Edict, Book VII. No one is held to be barred to whom the Prætor promises to grant complete restitution.
6 Ulpianus libro tertio decimo ad edictum. Non solum minoris, verum eorum quoque, qui rei publicae causa afuerunt, item omnium, qui ipsi potuerunt restitui in integrum, successores in integrum restitui possunt, et ita saepissime est constitutum. sive igitur heres sit sive is cui hereditas restituta est sive filii familias militis successor, in integrum restitui poterit. proinde et si minor in servitutem redigatur vel ancilla fiat, dominis eorum dabitur non ultra tempus statutum in integrum restitutio. sed et si forte hic minor erat captus in hereditate quam adierit, Iulianus libro septimo decimo digestorum scribit abstinendi facultatem dominum posse habere non solum aetatis beneficio, verum et si aetas non patrocinetur: quia non apiscendae hereditatis gratia legum beneficio usi sunt, sed vindictae gratia.
6 Ulpianus, On the Edict, Book XIII. Complete restitution may be granted to the successors of minors, as well as to the successors of those who are absent on public business, and, in fact, of all those who were themselves entitled to complete restitution; and this has very frequently been decided. Therefore, an heir, or a person to whom an estate has been delivered, or the successor of the son of a family who was a soldier, can obtain complete restitution. Hence if a minor of either sex is reduced to slavery, complete restitution will be granted to his or her master, within the time prescribed by law. But if it should happen that such a minor was overreached with reference to an estate which he had entered upon, Julianus says, in the Seventeenth Book of the Digest, that his master will have the right to reject it, not only on the ground of youth, but even where youth cannot be alleged; because patrons have used the benefit of the laws not for the sake of obtaining an estate, but for the purpose of revenge.
7 Marcellus libro tertio digestorum. Divus Antoninus Marcio Avito praetori de succurrendo ei, qui absens rem amiserat, in hanc sententiam rescripsit: ‘Etsi nihil facile mutandum est ex sollemnibus, tamen ubi aequitas evidens poscit, subveniendum est. itaque si citatus non respondit et ob hoc more pronuntiatum est, confestim autem pro tribunali te sedente adiit: existimari potest non sua culpa sed parum exaudita voce praeconis defuisse, ideoque restitui potest.’ 1Nec intra has solum species consistet huius generis auxilium: etenim deceptis sine culpa sua, maxime si fraus ab adversario intervenerit, succurri oportebit, cum etiam de dolo malo actio competere soleat, et boni praetoris est potius restituere litem, ut et ratio et aequitas postulabit, quam actionem famosam constituere, ad quam tunc demum descendendum est, cum remedio locus esse non potest.
7 Marcellus, Digest, Book III. The Divine Antoninus made the following statement in a Rescript addressed to Marcius Avitus, the Prætor, on the subject of relieving a person who had lost his property while absent: “Although changes should not be readily made in matters which have been solemnly established, still, where equity clearly demands it, relief must be granted; and therefore, where a party who was summoned did not appear, and on this account judgment was formally rendered against him, and he soon afterwards appeared before the court where you were presiding; it may be supposed that his non-appearance was due, not so much to his own fault, as to the imperfectly heard voice of the crier, and therefore he is entitled to restitution.” 1The aid of the Emperor does not seem to be limited to cases of this kind alone, for relief should be granted to persons who have been deceived without their own fault, and especially where fraud was committed by their adversaries, since it is usual for an action based upon fraud to be requested; and it is the duty of a just prætor to grant a new trial, which both reason and justice demand, rather than to allow an action involving turpitude to be brought, which should be resorted to only when no other remedy is available.
8 Macer libro secundo de appellationibus. Inter minores viginti quinque annis et eos qui rei publicae causa absunt hoc interest, quod minores annis etiam qui per tutores curatoresve suos defensi sunt, nihilo minus in integrum contra rem publicam restituuntur, cognita scilicet causa: ei vero qui rei publicae causa absit, ceteris quoque qui in eadem causa habentur, si per procuratores suos defensi sunt, hactenus in integrum restitutione subveniri solet, ut appellare his permittatur.
8 Macer, On Appeals, Book III. This difference exists between the case of minors under twenty-live years of age and parties who are absent on public business, namely: minors, even where they are defended by their guardians and curators, may still obtain complete restitution against the State, that is, where proper cause is shown; but where anyone is absent on public business, or where others who enjoy the same privilege, if they are defended by their agents, are usually only relieved by complete restitution to the extent of being permitted to appeal.