Equality
A Law Dictionary, Adapted to the Constitution and Laws of the United States · John Bouvier · 1839
A Law Dictionary, Adapted to the Constitution and Laws of the United States
Possessing the same rights and being liable to the same duties. Persons are all equal before the law, whatever adventitious advantages some may possess over others. All persons are protected by the law, and obedience to it is required from all. In contracts, the law presumes the parties act upon a perfect equality; when therefore one party uses any fraud or deceit to destroy this equality, the party grieved may avoid the contract. Vide Deceit, Fraud.