Law
The Doctrine of Laches in Equitable Remedies
Quick fact
Unlike a statute of limitations, which sets a fixed deadline, laches is a flexible equitable defense that can bar a claim even if the deadline hasn't expired—if the delay is unfair to the defendant.
Why this is interesting
Imagine someone waits years before suing you—can they still get what they want? Courts said 'no' for centuries, and they had a name for it.