An event is vainly expected from which no effect follows.

Explanation

(English-origin maxim.) An event from which no legal consequence follows is not cognizable by the law — the courts do not take notice of occurrences that produce no effect.

Where this applies

• A man sends a letter offering to sell his house, but the letter is never delivered and no one ever sees it — the attempted offer has no legal effect and is as if it never happened.
• A legislature passes a law that imposes no penalty, creates no right, and changes no existing obligation — the statute is a legal nullity because no consequence flows from it.
• A company announces a merger that never closes and produces no change in ownership or operations — the announcement is vainly expected because it brought nothing into existence.