Legal Definitions - preexisting duty

Preexisting duty refers to a legal obligation that a person is already bound to perform. For example, if a construction company agrees to build a house for a certain price, they cannot later demand more money for the same work they were already obligated to do. This is known as the preexisting duty rule.

Another example is when a police officer is already obligated to protect and serve the public. They cannot demand extra payment to perform their duties during a crisis or emergency.

These examples illustrate how preexisting duty works in different contexts. It prevents people from taking advantage of situations where they are already obligated to perform certain tasks or duties.