Aemulationem Vicini

The doctrine of Aemulationem Vicini is an element in the law of Delict. It described an otherwise lawful use of property which is done merely to spite another.

Case Law
The Doctrine of Aemulationem Vicini was argued to be extinct in the case of Mayor of Bradford v. Pickles (1895) where Lord Watson argued that motive alone cannot make a legal use of property unlawful. However, this dismissed by others as Obiter dictum.

The doctrine was affirmed in More v Boyle (1967) where a neighbour cut off the water supply to his neighbours in part of a neighbourhood dispute.