Legal Definitions - de melioribus damnis

Definition: De melioribus damnis is a Latin phrase that means "of better damages." It refers to the idea that sometimes it is better to suffer a small loss now in order to avoid a larger loss in the future.

Example: A company may choose to invest in new technology even though it will cost them money in the short term. However, they believe that the long-term benefits of the technology will outweigh the initial costs.

Explanation: In this example, the company is willing to incur a small loss (the cost of the new technology) in order to avoid a larger loss in the future (losing market share to competitors who have adopted the new technology). This is an example of de melioribus damnis in action.