Doctrine of In Pari Delicto in Legal Context
The doctrine of in pari delicto (Latin for "in equal fault") dictates that when parties are equally at fault, the possessor's condition is considered better, meaning a person engaged in wrongdoing cannot sue another for the same act. Exceptions include the adverse interest and innocent insider exceptions. Illustrated through the case of Taylor v. Chester (1869), where the plaintiff could not recover a pledge given for services of a brothel due to both parties' participation in an illegal agreement.
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IN PARI DELICTO POTIOR EST CONDITIO POSSIDENTIS Presented by: Rinkey Sharma Asst. Prof. of Law IILS
IN PARI DELICTO POTIOR EST CONDITIO POSSIDENTIS It is a Latin phrase for "in equal fault ,better is the condition of the possessor." This means when the parties are equally at wrong, the condition of the possessor is considered to be better. Simply put, it means a person in a wrongful act cannot sue another person in the same wrongful act. When two parties have equally wronged, courts will generally not interfere with the status quo, which is the reason why the possessor is at benefit. The doctrine is also known as the dirty hands or unclean hands doctrine.
To successfully apply the doctrine, the plaintiff must be an active, voluntary participant in the wrongful conduct, and the plaintiff's wrongdoing must be at least substantially equal to that of the defendant. Furthermore, the doctrine of in pari delicto may be subject to the "adverse interest" exception, which applies when an agent is defrauding the principal exclusively for the agent's own benefit and to the detriment of the corporation. Another exception to the in pari delicto defense is the "innocent insider" exception, which provides that if there is another agent within the corporation who had no knowledge of the fraud, and who had the will and the ability to stop the fraud had it come to his or her attention, the in pari delicto defense will fail.
Taylor v. Chester (1869) LR 4 QB 309 FACTS: Plaintiff deposited with the defendant half of alleged bank note as pledge. The debt was contracted to enjoy the services of brothel kept by the defendant. The plaintiff brought an action to recover the half note. ISSUE: Whether plaintiff could recover half bank note given to defendant as pledge for enjoying services of latter s brothel? HELD: Summary of Judgment: Maxim in pari delicto potior est conditio possidentis applies; and that as plaintiff could not recover without showing the true character of the deposit and that being on an illegal consideration of which he himself was a party, he could not recover anything. The maxim, in pari delicto is founded upon the principles of public policy, which states that courts will not assist plaintiff who has paid over money or handed over property in pursuance of an illegal or immoral agreement, fully knowing its nature. The true test for determining whether plaintiff and defendant were in pari delicto is by considering whether plaintiff could make out his case without the aid of illegal transaction of which he himself was party. In present case, illegality was not collateral to the contract but the direct result of the transaction upon which the deposit of half note took place. Hence, judgment for defendant.
