How to Use the Doctrine of Unclean Hands
What is the Doctrine of Unclean Hands?
The doctrine of unclean hands is a legal principle that basically says; if you’re acting unethically or illegally, the court won’t help you out. It’s like that old saying, “you can’t have your cake and eat it too” – you can’t break the rules and then expect the justice system to bail you out.In legalese, it states that a party who has acted unethically or in bad faith regarding the subject matter of a lawsuit, can’t seek equitable relief from the court. Basically, if you’re being shady, you can’t ask the court for special favors.
When Does the Unclean Hands Doctrine Apply?
This doctrine usually comes up in civil cases, not criminal ones. It’s used as an affirmative defense – meaning the defendant is saying “yeah, I did that thing, but the plaintiff was acting sketchy too.”It applies when the plaintiff is accused of willful misconduct directly relating to the issue in the lawsuit. So if you’re suing me for stealing your car, but it turns out you stole that car from someone else first – the unclean hands doctrine could get your case thrown out.The key things are:
-- The misconduct has to be willful, not just an honest mistake
- It has to directly relate to the issue being litigated
- It’s about fairness – the court doesn’t want to aid someone acting in bad faith
How to Raise the Unclean Hands Defense
If you want to use this defense, you’ll need evidence that the plaintiff acted unethically regarding the specific issue in the case. Circumstantial evidence can work, but direct proof is better.Some examples of potential unclean hands:
- Lying or destroying evidence
- Violating laws/regulations related to the case
- Acting in bad faith during negotiations
- Fraud, misrepresentation, or deceit
The burden is on you (the defendant) to prove the plaintiff’s misconduct. Judges are hesitant to apply this doctrine without solid proof.You’ll make this an “affirmative defense” in your answer to the complaint. Basically stating “even if I did what plaintiff alleges, they were acting unethically too regarding this matter.”
Pros and Cons of the Unclean Hands Doctrine
Like most legal principles, the unclean hands doctrine has some pros and cons:Pros:
- Promotes fairness and ethical conduct
- Prevents the court from aiding illegal/unethical acts
- Discourages misconduct and fraud
Cons:
-- Can let a guilty party off the hook if the other side acted unethically
- Subjective – judges have discretion in applying it
- Doesn’t deter initial misconduct by the defendant
There’s an argument that it creates a moral hazard – if you know the other side was shady, you may be more inclined to act unethically yourself.
Famous Examples of Unclean Hands
The doctrine has been applied in many high-profile cases over the years:
- The Winklevoss twins’ lawsuit against Mark Zuckerberg over the founding of Facebook was dismissed due to unclean hands. The twins allegedly violated securities laws themselves.
- A woman’s lawsuit against Samsung for allowing hackers access to her phone data was rejected after she refused to delete racy selfies from evidence.
- Volkswagen couldn’t seek patent damages related to its diesel emissions cheating scandal due to its own misconduct.
So in summary, if you want to use the unclean hands defense, be prepared to show solid evidence that the plaintiff engaged in direct, willful misconduct relating to the issues in the case. It’s an uphill battle, but can work in egregious situations.
Potential Defenses Against Unclean Hands
If the other side tries to use the unclean hands doctrine against you, there are a few potential counter-arguments:
Misconduct Was Too Remote
You can argue that the plaintiff’s alleged misconduct was too unrelated or remote from the issues in the case. Courts require a direct connection.
-Plaintiff’s Hands Are Clean Now
If the plaintiff has since corrected their past misconduct and “cleaned their hands”, you can argue the doctrine shouldn’t apply.
Balancing the Equities
The judge has to weigh the ethics of both sides’ conduct. You may be able to argue that your actions, while improper, were less egregious than the plaintiff’s.
Unclean Hands Doesn’t Apply to the Claim
Certain claims, like breach of contract, may not allow an unclean hands defense depending on the jurisdiction.The key is showing that equity favors your side, despite any potential misconduct. It’s a subjective balancing test.
-Unclean Hands in Specific Areas of Law
The doctrine is most commonly used in specific areas like:Contract Law
It prevents someone who induced a contract through fraud from enforcing it. But it’s a high bar – minor misconduct may not trigger unclean hands.Trademark Law
Unclean hands can block a trademark holder from enforcing their rights if they misrepresented their goods/services or committed other violations.Patent Law
An inventor who engaged in inequitable conduct like lying to the patent office may have unclean hands and be unable to stop infringement.Copyright Law
If a copyright holder’s work was created through plagiarism or derived from misappropriated material, they may be barred from suing for infringement.Real Estate
In property disputes, misconduct like lying about zoning issues or forging deeds could constitute unclean hands.So in areas where “equitable” remedies are sought, unclean hands is a potential defense if the plaintiff’s own conduct was sufficiently unethical.
Limitations of the Unclean Hands Doctrine
While a powerful defense, there are some key limitations to be aware of:
- It only applies to equitable claims, not legal ones like damages. So it can’t be used against every type of lawsuit.
- The misconduct has to relate directly to the subject matter of the litigation. Unrelated bad acts usually won’t qualify.
- Public policy may sometimes override unclean hands, like in cases involving public health/safety.
- It’s a discretionary doctrine – judges decide if the plaintiff’s conduct was sufficiently unethical to warrant dismissal.
- Mere negligence or mistake is usually insufficient – the misconduct must be willful and intentional.
So it’s an imperfect defense that requires meeting a high burden of proof. But it can succeed in extreme cases of fraud or bad faith by the plaintiff.
Alternatives to Unclean Hands
If the unclean hands doctrine doesn’t quite fit, there are some alternative defenses that cover similar ground:In Pari Delicto
This allows a defendant to argue the plaintiff was equally at fault or involved in the same misconduct.Estoppel
Prevents a party from taking a legal position contradictory to their previous actions/conduct.Laches
Bars a claim if the plaintiff took too long to file it, causing prejudice to the defendant.Undue Influence
Allows setting aside transactions where one party took advantage of a position of power over the other.So while unclean hands is a common “equity” defense, it’s not the only way to raise issues with the plaintiff’s conduct.
Conclusion
The doctrine of unclean hands is all about fairness and ethics. If you’re asking a court for an equitable remedy, you better have clean hands yourself.It requires proving the other side willfully engaged in direct misconduct relating to the issues in the case. A tough standard, but it can succeed in extreme situations.Ultimately, it’s a balance of ethics – did the plaintiff’s actions so violate good faith that they don’t deserve the court’s assistance? If so, unclean hands may be a viable defense.