QUIT CLAIM, contracts. A release or acquittal of a man from all claims which the releasor has against him.
QUIT RENT. A rent paid by the tenant1 of the freehold, by which he goes quit and free; that is, discharged from any other rent. 2 Bl. Com. 42.
2. In England, quit rents were rents reserved to the king or a proprietor2, on an absolute grant of waste land, for which a price in gross was at first paid, and a mere3 nominal4 rent reserved as a feudal5 acknowledgment of tenure6. Inasmuch as no rent of this description can exist in the United States, when a quit rent is spoken of, some other interest must be intended. 5 Call. R. 364. A perpetual rent reserved on a conveyance7 in fee simple, is sometimes known by the name of quit rent in Massachusetts. 1 Hill. Ab. 150. See Ground Rent; Rent.
QUO ANIMO. The intent; the mind with which a thing has been done; as, the quo animo with which the words were spoken may be shown by the proof of conversations of the defendant8 relating to the original defamation9. 19 Wend. 296.
JURE, WRIT10 OF, Engl. law. The name of a writ commanding the defendant to show by what right he demands common of pasture in the land of the complainant, who claims to have a fee in the same. F. N. B. 299.
QUO MlNUS. The name of a writ. In England, when the king's debtor11 is sued in the court of the exchequer12, he may sue out a writ of quo minus, in which he suggests that he is the king's debtor, and that the defendant has done him the injury or damage complained of, quo minus sufficiens existit, by which he is less able to pay the king's debt. This was originally requisite13 in order to give jurisdiction14 to the court of exchequer, but now this suggestion is a mere form. 3 Bl. Com. 46.
QUO WARRANTO, remedies. By what authority or warrant. The name of a writ issued in the name of a government against any person or corporation that usurps15 any franchise16 or office, commanding the sheriff of the county to summon the defendant to be and appear before the court whence the writ issued, at a time and place therein named, to show "quo warranto" he claims the franchise or office mentioned in the writ. Old Nat. Br. 149; . 5 Wheat. 291; 15 Mass. 125; 5 Ham. 358; 1 Miss. 115.
2. This writ has become obsolete17, having given way to informations in the nature of a quo warranto at the common law; Ang. on Corp. 469; it is authorized18 in Pennsylvania by legislative19 sanction. Act 14 June, 1836. Vide 1 Vern. 156; Yelv. 190; 7 Com. Dig. 189; 17 Vin. Ab. 177.
3. An information in the nature of a quo warranto, although a criminal proceeding20 in form, in substance, is a civil one. 1 Serg. & Rawle, 382.