An equitable defense that bars a claim when a plaintiff has unreasonably delayed bringing a lawsuit, and this delay has prejudiced the defendant. It's based on the principle that equity aids the vigilant, not those who sleep on their rights.
From Old French 'lachesse' meaning 'slackness' or 'negligence,' derived from Latin 'laxus' (loose, slack). The legal doctrine developed in medieval English courts of equity to prevent stale claims where delay made fair resolution difficult.
Laches is equity's way of saying 'you snooze, you lose'—even if the statute of limitations hasn't run out, waiting too long to sue can kill your case if your delay unfairly hurts the other side's ability to defend!
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