In pari delicto

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In pari delicto, Latin for "in equal fault," is a legal term used to indicate that two persons or entities are equally at fault, whether the malfeasance in question is a crime or tort. The phrase is most commonly used by courts when relief is being denied to both parties in a civil action because of wrongdoing by both parties. The doctrine is similar to the equitable defense of unclean hands, though in pari delicto is a legal doctrine. Comparative fault and contributory negligence are not the same as in pari delicto, though all of these doctrines have similar policy rationales.