Intuitu Personae Definition: Latin: Because of the person. Also spelled intuitus personae. A personal services contract, where the person of one of the contracting parties is an essential term of the contract. In CN v Norsk, Justice wrote: "Intuitus personae, i.e., a personal service contract where the particular individual cannot be replaced." Examples include contracts with musicians, singers, actors, specific lawyers and professional athletes. A power of attorney is another example of a legal document which is intuitu personae. The doctrine of a intuitus personae contract is well-known to the civil law. In the common law, contract law deals with the issue under the rubric of a personal services contract, without reference, generally, to the Latin maxim, and the non-availability of the remedy of specific performance in cases where the contract allegedly breached is one of personal services; i.e. intuitu personae. REFERENCES: Baudoin, J.-L. and Jobin, P.-G., Les Obligations, 5th Ed. (Montreal: Editions Yvon Blais, 1998), pages 79-80. CN v Norsk Pacific Steamship [1992] 1 SCR 1021 Duhaime, Lloyd, Contract Law Categories & Topics: Dictionary of Latin Law Terms Duhaime's Civil Law Dictionary Duhaime's Contract Law Dictionary Always looking up definitions? Save time with our search provider (modern browsers only) If you find an error or omission in Duhaime's Legal Dictionary, or if you have suggestion for a legal term, we'd love to hear from you! Survey