Lex Aquila

The Lex Aquila was a statute in Roman law that addressed wrongful damage to property. It was enacted in the early 3rd century BC and superseded earlier laws concerning property loss. This law established penalties for causing damage to property, including slaves and animals, and also extended to buildings.1

The damages awarded under the Lex Aquila were based on the highest value of the damaged item within a specific preceding period: the highest value in the preceding year for a unlawfully killed slave or grazing animal, and the highest value in the preceding 30 days for other types of property. The law stipulated that the damage must have resulted from a wrongful or negligent act. The term "Aquilian" is derived from this statute and is used to describe faults or liabilities in civil and Roman law related to wrongful damage to property.12