Legal Definitions - brevi manu

Definition: Brevi manu (bree-vIman-yoo) is a Latin term used in Roman and civil law. It means "with a short hand." It has two meanings:

1. Directly; by the shortest route.
2. Without a legal warrant; on one's own authority.

In Roman law, brevi manu referred to the transfer of ownership of an item to someone who already had physical control of the item. For example, if someone borrowed a book and then bought it from the owner, the transfer of ownership would be brevi manu. In Scotland, the term usually meant performing an act without going to court. For instance, a landlord could seize a tenant's belongings for unpaid rent without involving a judge.

Examples:

• John borrowed a lawnmower from his neighbor and then bought it from him. The transfer of ownership was brevi manu because John already had physical control of the lawnmower.
• When the tenant failed to pay rent, the landlord seized his TV without going to court. This was an example of brevi manu because the landlord acted on his own authority.

These examples illustrate the two meanings of brevi manu. In the first example, the transfer of ownership was direct and straightforward because John already had the lawnmower. In the second example, the landlord acted without a legal warrant, which is another meaning of brevi manu.