Where a thing is owned in common or shared equally, it is agreed that the cause of him prohibiting its use is the better.

Explanation

(English-origin maxim.) Where property is held in common, the party who forbids its use has the stronger position — cite this to block a co-owner's attempt to use or dispose of shared property without unanimous consent.

Where this applies

• Three co-owners of a commercial building disagree about demolishing it for redevelopment; the two who want to proceed are blocked by the one who objects, because in common ownership the objector's cause is the better.
• Joint owners of a shared driveway dispute whether to pave it; the owner who opposes has the stronger position and the project cannot go forward without his consent.
• Co-tenants of farmland disagree about planting a new crop; the one who prohibits the change has the legally favored position over the one who proposes it.