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  • Public Policy Definition

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    Certain contracts or acts are considered against public policy if they tend to promote unlawful behavior, undermine the purpose of laws, or harm the state or citizens. Courts will generally not enforce contracts that are deemed against public policy. Some examples of contracts that courts have found to be against public policy include agreements to sell one's daughter into marriage, interfere with the administration of justice, or commit crimes. Judges aim to use the public policy doctrine sparingly and only in clear cases where the harm is substantial.

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    Certain contracts or acts are considered against public policy if they tend to promote unlawful behavior, undermine the purpose of laws, or harm the state or citizens. Courts will generally not enforce contracts that are deemed against public policy. Some examples of contracts that courts have found to be against public policy include agreements to sell one's daughter into marriage, interfere with the administration of justice, or commit crimes. Judges aim to use the public policy doctrine sparingly and only in clear cases where the harm is substantial.

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    87 views3 pages

    Public Policy Definition

    Uploaded by

    api-319773246
    Certain contracts or acts are considered against public policy if they tend to promote unlawful behavior, undermine the purpose of laws, or harm the state or citizens. Courts will generally not enforce contracts that are deemed against public policy. Some examples of contracts that courts have found to be against public policy include agreements to sell one's daughter into marriage, interfere with the administration of justice, or commit crimes. Judges aim to use the public policy doctrine sparingly and only in clear cases where the harm is substantial.

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    of 3

    5/25/2016

    PublicPolicyDefinition

    CurrentSection:Duhaime.orgLegalDictionary

    Duhaime'sLawDictionary
    PublicPolicyDefinition:
    Certainactsorcontractsaresaidtobeagainstpublicpolicyiftheytendtopromotebreachofthelaw,of
    thepolicybehindalawortendtoharmthestateoritscitizens.

    Fromthe2002(8thedition)ofWilliamsonWills:

    "Aconditionisagainstpublicpolicyifitisintheinterestofthestatethatitshould
    notbeperformed.Whatiscontrarytopublicpolicyhasvariedfromtimetotime,andmany
    conditionsnowupheldwhichinformerdayswouldhavebeendeclaredtobecontrarytothe
    (public)policyofthelaw.Theruleremains,butitsapplicationvarieswiththe
    principleswhichforthetimebeingguidepublicopinion."
    Generally,theCourtwillassistanypersonthatcanprovethatacontractithasenteredintohasnotbeenperformedbytheotherside.Thisincludesifnecessary,
    fullaccesstothemachineryofjudgmentenforcement.However,theCourtshaveheldthattheywillnotliftafingertohelpanypersonwhoclaimsundera
    contractwhichisagainstpublicpolicytheywillnot,evenindirectly,assistanypersontoviolateorbreachlaworthepolicybehindalaw.Thisisknownasthe
    doctrineofpublicpolicyanditisanimportantpartofcontractlawandthelawofwills.
    InEgerton,JusticeTrurowrote:

    "Nosubjectcanlawfullydothatwhichhasatendencytobeinjurioustothepublicor
    againstthepublicgoodwhichmustbetermed,asitsometimeshas,thepolicyofthelaw
    http://www.duhaime.org/LegalDictionary/P/PublicPolicy.aspx

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    5/25/2016

    PublicPolicyDefinition

    againstthepublicgoodwhichmustbetermed,asitsometimeshas,thepolicyofthelaw
    orpublicpolicyinrelationtotheadministrationofthelaw."
    Contractsencouragingimmoralitysuchassellingadaughterformarriage,seekingtointerferewiththeadministrationofjusticeorinjurioustothestate,
    transactingingoodsknowntobestolen,tocommittortsorcrimesortopromoteseditionormutinyor,intimeofwar,enemyattackshaveallbeenheldtobe
    unenforceableasagainstpublicpolicy,orseekingtoenforceacontractobtainedbyfraud.
    AnexampleisHendryvZimmermaninwhichapersonagreedtotestifyforapartyinacourtactiononlyifsomethingwasleftforherintheparty'sestateplan.
    Thecourtrefusedtoenforcethecontractasagainstpublicpolicy.
    TheCourtsaregenerallytointerferewiththefreedomofcontractandusethepublicpolicydoctrinesparingly.AsJusticeBurroughsaidinRichardson:

    "Publicpolicy...isaveryunrulyhorseandwhenyougetastrideofit,youneverknow
    whereitwillcarryyou."
    InFender,JusticeAtkinalsoadmonishedjudgestoexerciseextremecautioninregardstothedoctrine:

    "...thedoctrine(ofpublicpolicy)shouldbeinvokedonlyinclearcases,inwhichtheharmto
    thepublicissubstantiallyincontestable,anddoesnotdependupontheidiosyncraticinferences
    ofafewjudicialminds."
    French:l'ordrepublic.

    REFERENCES:
    Duhaime,Lloyd,ContractLawDictionary
    Duhaime,Lloyd,LegalDefinitionofExTurpiCausaNonOriturActio
    Duhaime,Lloyd,LegalDefinitionofInTerrorem
    EgertonvBrown(1853)4HLC1
    FendervMildmay(1937)3AllER402
    HendryvZimmerman(1948)1WWR385
    RichardsonvMellish2Bing.229(1824)
    ReGoing(DLR,1951)
    ReMiller1938SCR1(SupremeCourtofCanada)
    http://www.duhaime.org/LegalDictionary/P/PublicPolicy.aspx

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    5/25/2016

    ReMiller1938SCR1(SupremeCourtofCanada) PublicPolicyDefinition
    Sherrin,C.,WilliamsonWills,8thEd.(London:Butterworths,2002),page355

    Categories&Topics:
    Duhaime'sContractLawDictionary
    Duhaime'sTrusts,Wills,EstatesandProbateLawDictionary

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