Legal Definition and Related Resources of Breaking Bulk

To unload ; to unpack. At common law there could be no larceny of goods which had originally been lawfully obtained by a person who subsequently wrongfully converted them to his own use, unless such conversion was preceded by some new act of taking, such as breaking bulk. See now Larceny Act, 1916, s. 20

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Breaking Bulk in Historical Law

You might be interested in the historical meaning of this term. Browse or search for Breaking Bulk in Historical Law in the Encyclopedia of Law.

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What does Breaking Bulk mean in American Law?

The definition of Breaking Bulk in the law of the United States, as defined by the lexicographer Arthur Leff in his legal dictionary is:

At common law, if a carrier or other bailee of goods (see bailment), with criminal intent broke open a package of goods entrusted to him, and converted them to his own use, he committed the felony of larceny; but if he merely stole the whole unopened package, he committed no felony (though the owner, of course, was entitled to get his goods back). Why there should ever have been such a doctrine has been the subject of much explanation, which has left the matter inexplicable. See also breaking bail. The concept of “breaking bulk” has also figured in U.S. constitutional law, for which see original package doctrine.