Lata Culpa Law and Legal Definition
Lata culpa is a Latin term. It means ‘grave fault.’ Lata Culpa refers to a gross negligence. This phrase is commonly seen used in bailment law and in the law of the transport of persons. It is also termed culpa lata.
The following is an example of a case law defining the term:
Gross neglect, lata culpa, is the omission of that care which even inattentive and thoughtless men never fail to take care of their property. Ordinary neglect, levis culpa, is a want of that diligence which the generality of mankind use in their own concerns; that is, of ordinary care. Slight neglect, levissuma culpa, is the omission of that care which very attentive and diligent persons take of their own goods, or in other words, of very exact diligence. [ Commonwealth v. Polk, 256 Ky. 100 (Ky. 1934)].
