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Quia timet

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Quia timet (Latin for 'because he fears'; pronounced [/ˈkwiːə ˈtɪmɛt/ or /ˈkwiə ˈtɪmᵻt/]),[1] is a common law injunction to restrain wrongful acts which are threatened or imminent but have not yet commenced. The 1884 English legal case of Fletcher v. Bealey [28 Ch.D. 688 at p. 698] stated the necessary conditions for the equity courts to grant an injunction in such cases:

  1. proof of imminent danger;
  2. proof that the threatened injury will be practically irreparable; and
  3. proof that whenever the injurious circumstances ensue, it will be impossible to protect plaintiff's interests, if relief is denied.

Brevia anticipantia

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Quia timet remedies were writs at common law. According to Lord Coke, "there be six writs of law that may be maintained quia timet, before any molestation, distress, or impleading; as. 1. A man may have his writ or mesne, before he be distrained. 2. A warrantia chartae, before he be imploded. 3. A monstraverunt, before any distress or vexation. 4. An audita querela, before any execution sued. 5. A curia claudenda before any default of inclosure. 6. A ne injustice vexes, before any distress or molestation. And those are called brevia anticipantia, writs of prevention."[2]

Quia timet injunctions

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Quia timet injunctions refer to a type of injunction in English law obtained where a wrong is anticipated. Quia timet literally means "because he fears".

According to Graigola Merthyr Co Ltd v Swansea Corpn to obtain a quia timet injunction there must be an immediate threat to do something.[3] Moffat's Trusts Law states that a quia timet injunction can both prohibit something or mandate something to occur.[3]

References

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  1. ^ "Quia timet". Oxford English Dictionary (Online ed.). Oxford University Press. Retrieved 6 March 2023. (Subscription or participating institution membership required.)
  2. ^ Coke on Littleton 100
  3. ^ a b Jonathan Garton, Graham Moffat, Gerry Bean, Rebecca Probert (2015) Moffat's Trusts Law: Text and Materials, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, p. 724