One's own wrong shall not benefit the person doing it.

Explanation

No man may convert his own wrongful act into an advantage — the law refuses to let the wrongdoer profit from the very injury he inflicts.

Where this applies

• A man burns down his own house and then files an insurance claim for the full value — the law will not allow him to profit from his own arson; his wrongful act cannot become his financial benefit.
• An heir murders his wealthy uncle to accelerate an inheritance — the law bars the killer from inheriting, because no one may convert their own crime into a gain.
• A contractor deliberately installs defective materials to create a need for expensive repairs he can bill for — the law refuses to let him profit from the very harm he intentionally caused.