Ne vis fiat ei, qui in possessionem missus erit
(Concerning the Interdict Which Prohibits Violence Being Employed Against a Person Placed in Possession.)
1Ulpianus, On the Edict, Book LXXII. The Prætor says: “I will grant an action in factum, for the amount of the value of the property of which a person was placed in possession, against anyone who acts fraudulently to prevent him from obtaining control of said property by my permission, or by that of any other magistrate having jurisdiction.” 1It was with the greatest wisdom that the Prætor introduced this interdict; for it would be useless for him to place anyone in possession of property for the purpose of preserving it, unless he protected him, and punished those who prevented him from occupying it. 2Moreover, this Edict is of general application, for it has reference to all persons placed in possession of property by the Prætor, as it seemed proper to him that all those whom he placed in possession should be protected. Where persons are placed in possession, either for the purpose of preserving the property, or to insure the payment of their legacies, or to protect the rights of an unborn child, they will be entitled to an action in factum under this Edict, if a master or anyone else should prevent them from doing so. 3This action will not only lie against anyone who prevents another from taking possession, but also against a person who drives him away, after he has already obtained possession. It is not required that he who prevents him from taking possession should use force. 4Therefore, where if anyone hinders another from taking possession, because he thinks that the property belongs to him, or is encumbered to him, or, in fact, does not belong to the debtor, the result will be that he will not be liable under this Edict. 5The following words, “for the amount of the value of the property of which he was placed in possession,” include the entire interest of the creditor, so that the defendant shall have judgment rendered against him to the extent of the interest he had in not being prevented from obtaining possession. Hence, if he was placed in possession by virtue of a false claim or demand which was groundless, or if he should have been barred by an exception, this Edict will be of no advantage to him, because there was no reason why he should have been placed in possession. 6It is established that neither a minor nor an insane person is liable under this Edict, because they are destitute of will power. We should understand a minor to be one who is incapable of committing fraud, but if he is already capable of doing so, the opposite opinion must be held; therefore, if a guardian should commit a fraudulent act, we will grant an action against his ward, provided the guardian is solvent. Julianus says that the guardian himself can be sued. 7If anyone is prevented from obtaining possession with the consent of a master or a father, an action will be granted against them, just as if they committed the act by the agency of others. 8This action can only be brought within a year, except where anyone is placed in possession to insure the payment of a legacy; and it must be noted that it cannot be brought after the year has expired, as it is a penal one; nor will it be granted against heirs and other persons of this kind, unless with reference to property which has come into their hands. It will, however, be granted to the heir and other successors. For when anyone is prevented from obtaining possession on account of the preservation of legacies or trusts, the action is perpetual and is granted against the heir, because it is in the power of successors to avoid the operation of the interdict by offering to give security.
2Paulus, On the Edict, Book LIX. It makes no difference whether anyone is prevented from taking possession in his own name, or in that of another, for the words, “For the amount of the value of the property,” have reference to the owner personally. 1He also is liable who, either in his own name or in that of another, prevents possession from being taken.
3Ulpianus, On the Edict, Book LXVIII. Where anyone is awarded possession for the protection of a trust, and is not admitted, he should be placed in possession by the authority of him who granted it to him. If he wishes to avail himself of the interdict, it must be said that it will be applicable. It would, however, be better for the judge to have his decree executed by extraordinary process, derived from the power of his office, and sometimes even to accomplish this by armed force. 1It was decided by Antoninus that a person may, under certain circumstances, be permitted to take possession of the property of the heir himself. Therefore, if anyone is not permitted to take possession of such property, it must be held that this equitable proceeding will lie. He can also make use of extraordinary execution. 2The Prætor places an unborn child in possession. This interdict is both prohibitory and restitutory. If the mother prefers to bring an action in factum, it must be remembered that she can do so (as in the case of creditors), rather than avail herself of the interdict. 3If the woman is alleged to have obtained possession for the purpose of causing annoyance, or because she is not pregnant, or is not pregnant by the man whose property is in question, or where anything is alleged with reference to her status, the Prætor promises possession to the unborn child, under a Rescript of the Divine Hadrian, in conformity with the presumption of the Carbonian Edict.
4The Same, On the Edict, Book LXIX. The Prætor, by means of this Edict, conies to the relief of a person who has been placed in possession by him for the prevention of threatened injury, in order to prevent violence being employed against him. 1Moreover, the penalty imposed upon him who does not promise security or furnish it is that his adversary shall be placed in possession. Therefore, if he promises to give security, or if he was not required to do so, the interdict will not apply, and the plaintiff can be barred by an exception. 2The Prætor promises an action against a party who neither gave security, nor suffered him who had been placed in possession to enter upon the premises, for the amount which he must have paid if he had furnished security. 3The Prætor introduced this action for another reason, namely, so that, if when a person desired to be placed in possession he was unable to appear in court, and in the meantime while his inability continued, he sustained any injury he might be entitled to bring the action. 4It was also added that if anyone who was placed in possession was alleged to have been prevented for some other reason, he would have a right to an action in factum.