“Unclean hands” is a legal doctrine that prevents a party from seeking relief from a court if that party has engaged in wrongful conduct related to the subject matter of the lawsuit. Essentially, the doctrine states that a plaintiff who has acted unfairly or in bad faith cannot ask the court for assistance or remedies. The principle of unclean hands serves to uphold fairness and equity in legal proceedings by preventing individuals from benefiting from their own wrongful actions. If a plaintiff is found to have unclean hands, the court may refuse to grant the requested relief or may dismiss the plaintiff’s case altogether.
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This glossary post was last updated: 29th March 2024.
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