Oath of Calumny Law and Legal Definition
Oath of calumny refers to an oath which a plaintiff was obliged to take that s/he was not actuated by a spirit of deception in commencing his/her action, but possessed a bonafide good cause of action.
Oath of calumny contains several clauses, binding the parties to act generally with good faith in the management of the cause. However, the principal and most important clause in the oath taken by the actor or plaintiff was that the action was not commenced. [Pratt v. Thomas, 1837 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 5 (D. Me. 1837)]
