The construction of law works no injury.

Explanation

The law will construe an instrument so as not to injure a party; a reading that inflicts harm upon the innocent, when another reading is available, is the wrong reading.

Where this applies

• The court's reading of this law would harm innocent people when another reading is available.
• An interpretation that injures someone shouldn't be chosen when a harmless reading exists.
• The law should be construed to avoid injury when there's another way to read it.

See also

• 10.1.1 Liberal constructions of written instruments are to be made, on account of the simplicity of the common people, so that the thing may have effect rather than perish; and words should serve the intention, not the intention the words.
• 10.8.3 A fiction of law injures no one.