De Minimis
Literal meaning: “About minimal things”
What does the Latin term "De Minimis" mean in law?
De minimis, derived from the maxim de minimis non curat lex (the law does not concern itself with trifles), describes matters so minor or insignificant that the law will not take notice of them. Courts apply this principle to dismiss claims or defenses based on trivially small amounts, inconsequential violations, or negligible harms. In tax law, de minimis rules allow small fringe benefits to go untaxed. In copyright law, de minimis use of copyrighted material may not constitute actionable infringement. In employment law, de minimis overtime violations may not give rise to a claim under the Fair Labor Standards Act. The doctrine serves judicial efficiency by preventing courts from being burdened with trivial disputes.
Source: General · Legal Latin
Legal Definition
De minimis, derived from the maxim de minimis non curat lex (the law does not concern itself with trifles), describes matters so minor or insignificant that the law will not take notice of them. Courts apply this principle to dismiss claims or defenses based on trivially small amounts, inconsequential violations, or negligible harms. In tax law, de minimis rules allow small fringe benefits to go untaxed. In copyright law, de minimis use of copyrighted material may not constitute actionable infringement. In employment law, de minimis overtime violations may not give rise to a claim under the Fair Labor Standards Act. The doctrine serves judicial efficiency by preventing courts from being burdened with trivial disputes.
How It's Used
Judges invoke the de minimis doctrine to screen out claims that, while technically valid, involve harms too insignificant to warrant judicial resources. Regulatory agencies also apply de minimis thresholds to exempt minor violations from enforcement action, focusing resources on more substantial compliance failures.
Example Sentences
The court dismissed the copyright infringement claim as de minimis because the defendant had used only a two-second, barely audible clip of the plaintiff's recording.
The IRS applies a de minimis safe harbor allowing businesses to deduct the cost of tangible property items under a specified dollar threshold.
The employer's occasional rounding of time records was held to be a de minimis violation insufficient to support a class action wage claim.