A thing sold in good faith ought not to be rescinded on account of a trifling cause.

Explanation

Good faith sales are not to be undone for minor defects — the law favors the stability of completed transactions and will not set aside a sale for an insignificant reason.

Where this applies

• A buyer discovers a minor scratch on a piece of furniture delivered under a good-faith sale and demands a full refund, but the court refuses to rescind the sale over such a trivial defect.
• A homebuyer finds that the house is 50 square feet smaller than listed, but the court will not void the sale for such a minor discrepancy when the transaction was conducted in good faith.
• A purchaser of a used car discovers a small cosmetic dent not mentioned in the listing and seeks to return the vehicle, but the court holds that a trifling imperfection does not justify undoing an honest sale.

See also

• 6.2.1 The agreement gives the law to the contract.