Ab Initio - Definition - Law Dictionary Home Dictionary Definition ab-initio

Definition :

Ab initio [Lat.] (from the beginning). A person who abuses an authority given him by law becomes a trespasser ab initio, i.e., is liable as a trespasser from the beginning. See the Six Carpenters' case, (1611) 8 Rep. 146; 1 Smith's L.C. a party making an irregular distress for rent is not deemed a trespasser ab initio, by virtue of the Distress for Rent Act, 1737 (11 Geo. 2, c. 19), s. 19. A second distress may be good if the first is void ab initio, Grunnel v. Welch, (1906) 2 KB 555.