A common contractual representation is that the execution and delivery of the agreement does not constitute a breach of one or more other agreements or charter documents. Sometimes, the representation is that the execution and delivery do not “conflict with” or “violate”. Is there any difference between a “breach”, a “conflict” or a “violate”?
“Breach” is a word of Old English origin (bryce, meaning a fracture or breaking). “Conflict” and “Violate” in contrast are of Latin origin. At the siege of Harfleur, King Henry V urged his troops to fill the the breach:
“Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more;
Or close the wall up with our English dead.
W. Shakespeare, Henry V, Act III, Sc. 1.
“Conflict” is derived from conflictus which is the singular, perfect, passive participle of confligere meaning to come together in a collision. “Violate” is derived from violatus which is the perfect, passive participle of violare meaning to injure or dishonor. To some, these words may connote different meanings (or shades of meaning) and it is possible that a particular agreement will define what constitutes a breach, conflict or violation. However, I am not aware of any California precedent that assigns different meanings to these terms as a general matter.
Shakespeare generally preferred to use words of Anglo Saxon origin to those of Latin origin. This may be attributable to Shakespeare’s reportedly week knowledge of Classical languages. As Ben Johnson, a rival remarked, Shakespeare knew “small Latin and less Greek”. However, I believe that the power and appeal of Shakespeare’s plays is partly due to his use of Anglo Saxon and Old English words.
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