A more thorough explanation:

Definition: Rusticum judicium is a legal term that refers to the division of liability in which one party, usually the defendant, is required to pay only a portion, usually half, of the loss incurred by the other party, usually the plaintiff. This term originated in 17th century maritime law as a way to efficiently resolve collision cases where both ships were at fault. In maritime law, damages were equally divided. Rusticum judicium is also known as rusticum jus.

Example: If two cars collide and both drivers are found to be at fault, a court may apply the principle of rusticum judicium and divide the damages equally between the two drivers. This means that each driver would be responsible for paying only half of the damages incurred by the other driver.

Explanation: The example illustrates how rusticum judicium works in a real-life scenario. In this case, both drivers are at fault, and the court divides the damages equally between them, which is a fair and efficient way to resolve the issue.

Additional Example: In some rare cases, rusticum judicium may refer to rough justice or a rustic tribunal. However, this usage is colloquial and not accurate.

Explanation: This additional example shows that the term rusticum judicium can also be used to refer to a rough form of justice or a tribunal that is not formal or sophisticated. However, this usage is not common and is not the primary meaning of the term.