Legal Definitions - countervailing equity

Definition: Countervailing equity is a balancing equity that is equally deserving of consideration. It is a right or interest that is contrary to a right sought to be enforced.

Example: In a legal case, one party may argue for a certain right or interest, while the other party argues for a countervailing equity that contradicts the first party's argument. For instance, in a property dispute, one party may claim ownership based on a deed, while the other party may argue that they have a countervailing equity because they have been using the property for a long time and have made improvements to it.

This example illustrates how countervailing equity can be used to balance competing claims to a right or interest. It recognizes that there may be multiple valid perspectives on a situation, and seeks to find a fair and just solution that takes all relevant factors into account.