Nonfeasance

Defined in 6 dictionaries — Cyclopedic (1922), Ballentine's (1916), Black's (1910), Kinney (1893), Black's (1891), Stimson (1881)

The Cyclopedic Law Dictionary

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

The neglect or failure of a person to do some act which he ought to do. The term is not generally used to denote a breach of contract, but rather the failure to perform a duty towards the public whereby some individual sustains special damage, as where a sheriff fails to execute a writ. 3 Bl. Comm. 165; Broom, Com. Law, 655. When a legislative act requires a person to do a thing, its nonfeasance will subject the party to punishment; as, if a statute require the supervisors of the highways to repair such highways, the neglect to repair them may be punished. See 1 Russ. Crimes, 48. See also, "Mandate."

Ballentine's Law Dictionary

James A. Ballentine · 1916

The omission of an act which one ought to do. See 90 Wis. 225, 48 Am. St. Rep. 911, 28 L. R. A. 439, 63 N. W. 93.

Black's Law Dictionary

Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910

The neglect or failure of a person to do some act which he ought to do. The term is not generally used to denote a breach of contract, but rather the failure to perform a duty towards the publlc whereby some individual sustains special damage, as where a sheriff fails to execute a writ. Sweet. See Coite v. Lines, 33 Conn. 115; Gregor v. Cady, 82 Me. 131, 19 Atl. 108, 17 Am. St. Rep. ,466; Carr v. Kansas City (C. Ct) 87 Fed. 1; Minkler v. State, 14 Neb. 181, 15 N. W. 330; Illinois Cent. R. Co. v. Foulks, 191 III. 57, 60 N. E. 890.

A Law Dictionary and Glossary

George C. Kinney · 1893

A not doing; an omission to do something that ought to be done.

A Dictionary of Law

Henry Campbell Black · 1891

The neglect or failure of a person to do someact which heought todo. The term is not generally used to denote a breach of cuntract, but rather the failure to perform a duty towards the public whereby some individual sustains special damage, a3 where a sheriff fails to execute a writ. Sweet,

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

Frederic Jesup Stimson · 1881

A not doing; a non-performance, v. Malfeasance.