Literal Meaning – Owner of riot.
The master of the suit; i.e. the person who was really and directly interested in the suit as a party, as distinguished from his attorney or advocate. But the term is also applied to one who, though not originally a party, has made himself such, by intervention or otherwise, and has assumed entire control and responsibility for one side and is treated by the Court as liable for costs.
“Dominus litis” is a Latin legal maxim that means “master of the suit.” The maxim refers to the principle that a party who initiates a legal action has control over the proceedings and has the right to make decisions about how the case is conducted. In other words, the party who brings the suit is the one who has the ultimate responsibility for managing the case.
The principle of dominus litis is an important aspect of the legal system and is closely related to the concept of party autonomy. It recognizes that the parties to a legal dispute have the right to pursue their own interests and to make decisions about how they want to resolve the dispute. This includes decisions about whether to settle the case, how to present evidence, and what legal arguments to make.
The principle of dominus litis also has practical implications for legal proceedings. For example, it means that a plaintiff who initiates a lawsuit can decide whether to proceed with the case, settle the case, or drop the case entirely. Similarly, a defendant who is sued has the right to defend themselves in court, to make arguments in their own defense, and to seek legal remedies if they feel that they have been wronged.
Overall, the principle of dominus litis is an important aspect of the legal system and reflects the importance of party autonomy in legal proceedings. It recognizes the rights of the parties to a legal dispute to make decisions about how they want to resolve the dispute and underscores the importance of the role that they play in managing the case.
