Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
A Latin preposition meaning for or on account of.
Sources & Authorities
How it applies
Common Examples
6
Unmarketable Title Refusal
Phoebe Park contracted to buy land from Patrick Phan. At closing Phoebe discovered an unreleased lien on the property. She refused to close propter the defect and sought rescission of the contract.
Voting Rights Challenge
A state statute limited voting to property owners. Penelope Price, a female citizen without property, was denied the ballot. She sued propter the sex-based restriction under the constitutional guarantee.
Required Joinder Motion
Premier Manufacturing sued Pulse Media for breach. Platinum Partners held an interest that could expose Premier to inconsistent obligations if the case proceeded without it. The court ordered joinder propter the substantial risk of multiple liability.
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Cases
Statutes
Federal Rules
Uniform Acts
Model Codes
Unavailable Declarant Ruling
Pearl Porter offered a prior statement by a witness who had died before trial. The court admitted the statement under a hearsay exception propter the declarant's death.
Estoppel Liability Finding
Pavel Petrov permitted another to represent himself as owner of property. Third parties changed position in reliance. The court imposed liability on Pavel propter the belief he had intentionally caused.
Landlord Repair Obligation
Piper Patel leased property with a leaking roof. After entry she notified the landlord who failed to repair within a reasonable time. She invoked remedies propter the continuing unsuitable condition.
Common questions
Frequently Asked
7
What does the Latin term propter mean in legal writing?+
It means for or on account of and functions as a preposition introducing the reason for a legal consequence or condition.
How is propter used when title defects prevent closing?+
A buyer may refuse performance propter an unreleased lien or other defect that renders title unmarketable.
Does propter appear in constitutional voting provisions?+
Yes. The Nineteenth Amendment prohibits denial of the vote propter sex.
When does a court find a declarant unavailable propter illness?+
A declarant is unavailable when a then-existing mental or physical illness prevents testimony at the hearing.
What justifies joinder of a party propter risk of inconsistent obligations?+
Joinder is required when an absent person's interest would leave an existing party subject to double or inconsistent obligations.
Under agency principles when is liability imposed propter apparent ownership?+
A person who permits another to appear as owner and fails to correct the belief may be liable to those who change position in reliance.
When may a tenant pursue remedies propter an uncorrected defect after entry?+
Remedies available before entry remain available after entry if the landlord does not correct the unsuitable condition within a reasonable time after notice.
410 U.S. 113 (1973)Constitutional Law
…"compelling" point, in the light of present medical knowledge, is at approximately the end of the first trimester. This is so because of the now-established medical fact, referred to above at 149, that until the end of the first trimester mortality in abortion may be less than mortality in normal childbirth. It follows that,…