1. Roman & civil law. Fault, neglect, or negligence; unintentional wrong. See NEGLIGENCE. Cf. DILIGENTIA; CASUS (1); DOLUS(1).
2. Roman law. Conduct that made a party to a contract, or quasi-contract, liable to the other party.
lata culpa (lay-t[schwa] k[schwa]l-p[schwa]). [Latin “grave fault”] Gross negligence amounting to bad fath (dolus). • This phrase occurs most commonly in bailment law and in the law of the transport of persons.
— Also termed culpa lata. See gross negligence under NEGLIGENCE.
levis culpa (lee-vis k[schwa]l-p[schwa]). [Latin “slight fault”]
1. Ordinary negligence.
2. Failure to act as the ideal paterfamilias should.
— Also termed culpa levis; culpa levis in concreto. See ordinary negligence under NEGLIGENCE.
levissima culpa (l[schwa]-vis-[schwa]-m[schwa] k[schwa]l-p[ schwa]). [Latin “the slightest fault”] Slight negligence.
— Also termed culpa levissima. See slight negligence under NEGLIGENCE.
