Malfeasance

Defined in 10 dictionaries — Cyclopedic (1922), Ballentine's (1916), Bouvier (1914), Black's (1910), Kinney (1893), Black's (1891), Anderson (1889), Stimson (1881), Abbott (1879), Bouvier (1839)

The Cyclopedic Law Dictionary

Walter A. Shumaker and George Foster Longsdorf; ed. James C. Cahill · 1922

The unjust performance of some act which the party had no right, or which he had contracted not, to do. 33 Com. 115. It differs from misfeasance and nonfeasance (q. v.) See 1 Chit. Prac. 9; 1 Chit. PI. 134.

Ballentine's Law Dictionary

James A. Ballentine · 1916

The doing of an act which one ought not to do at all. See 90 Wis. 225, 48 Am. St. Rep. 911, 28 L. R. A. 439, 63 N. W. 93.

Bouvier's Law Dictionary and Concise Encyclopedia

John Bouvier; revised by Francis Rawle · 1914

The unjust performance of some act which the party bad no right, or which he had contracted not, to do. It differs from misfeasance and nonfeasance, which titles see. See 1 Chitty, Pr. 9; 1 Chltty, PI. 134.

Black's Law Dictionary

Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910

The wrongful or unjust doing of soihe act which the doer has no right to perform or which he has stipulated by contract not to do. It differs from "misfeasance" and "non-feasance," (which titles see.) See 1 Chit. Pr. 9; 1 Chit PI. 134; Dudley v. Flemingsburg, 115 Ky. 5, 72 S. W. 327, 60 In R. A. 575, 103 Am. St. Rep. 253; Co.ite v. Lynes, 33 Conn. 115; Bell v. Josse-lyn, 3 Gray (Mass.) 311, 63 Am. Dec. 741.

A Law Dictionary and Glossary

George C. Kinney · 1893

malfeasance, malfesance, malfeazance, malfaisance, I. Jr. and engr. Wrong-doing; the doing of what one ought not to do. Slaleficia non debent remauere impnnita; et impnnitas continnnm affectum tribuit delinquenti, I. Crimes ought not to remain unpunished; and impunity gives a continual impulse to the criminal [to commit another crime]. Maleflcia propositis di»tinganntar: evil deeds are distinguished by their purposes.

A Dictionary of Law

Henry Campbell Black · 1891

The wrongful or unjust doing of some act which the doer has no right to perform, or which he has stipulated by contiact not todo. It differs from “misfeasance” and “non-feasance,” (which titles see.) See 1 Chit. Pr. 9; 1 Chit. Pl. 134,

A Dictionary of Law

William C. Anderson · 1889

See Mal; Feasance.

Glossary of Technical Terms, Phrases, and Maxims of the Common Law

Frederic Jesup Stimson · 1881

fr., Maleficium, /. Wrong-doing, crime. Maleficia non debent remanere impunita; et impunitas continuum affectum tribuit delinquenti: crimes ought not to remain unpunished; and impunity gives a continual impulse to the criminal [to commit another crime]. Maleficia'propositia: crimes are distinguished by the purposes which »

Dictionary of Terms and Phrases Used in American or English Jurisprudence

Benjamin Vaughan Abbott · 1879

The commission of some act which is positively unlawful to do; opposed to nonfeasance, or the omission to perform a duty; and to misfeasance, or the improper performance of some lawful act. The term malfeasance is often used carelessly to describe a misfeasance. But a statute prescribing that a sheriff's bond shall cover defaults and misfeasances of deputies should not be construed as including a wilful or mistaken trespass by a deputy in taking property of one person under execution against another; but only for a deputy's neglects and defaults. Coite v. Lynes, 33 Conn. 109.

A Law Dictionary, Adapted to the Constitution and Laws of the United States

John Bouvier · 1839

contracts, torts, is the unjust performance of some act which the party had no right, or which he had contracted not todo. It differs from misfeas-' ance, (q. v.) and nonfeasance, (q. v.) Vide 1 Chit. Pr. 9; 1 Chit. Pl. 134.