Legal Definitions - in quibus infitiando lis crescit

IN QUIBUS INFITIANDO LIS CRESCIT

In Roman law, "in quibus infitiando lis crescit" means that the suit increases by denial. This phrase refers to the measure of damages in a legal action. If the defendant wrongfully denies a claim for damages, the defendant could be penalized by a multiple of the original claimed amount, usually double, triple, or quadruple.

For example, if a plaintiff sues a defendant for $10,000 in damages, and the defendant denies the claim, but the court finds that the defendant was at fault, the defendant may be ordered to pay $20,000, $30,000, or $40,000 instead of just $10,000.

Another example is if a landlord wrongfully withholds a tenant's security deposit and the tenant sues for the return of the deposit. If the landlord denies the claim and the court finds that the landlord was at fault, the landlord may be ordered to pay double or triple the amount of the security deposit.

These examples illustrate how the suit increases by denial. If the defendant had not denied the claim, the damages would have been limited to the original amount claimed. However, by denying the claim, the defendant risks a higher penalty if found at fault.