Legal Definitions - nihil capiat per breve

Definition: Nihil capiat per breve is a Latin term that means "let him take nothing by his writ." It is a judgment given against the plaintiff in a legal action at bar or in abatement. It is also known as nihil capiat per billam, which means "let him take nothing by his bill."

• John filed a lawsuit against his neighbor for damaging his property. However, the court ruled in favor of the neighbor and gave a judgment of nihil capiat per breve, which means John could not take anything by his writ.
• In another case, a plaintiff filed a lawsuit against a company for breach of contract. However, the court found that the plaintiff did not have the legal standing to sue and gave a judgment of nihil capiat per billam, which means the plaintiff could not take anything by his bill.

These examples illustrate how the term nihil capiat per breve is used in legal proceedings to deny the plaintiff's claim and prevent them from taking any legal action against the defendant.