Unclean Hands Definition

The doctrine that a party seeking damages or redress in a suit cannot have done anything illegal or dishonest himself in the transaction with which the suit is concerned; an equitable principle stemming from the concept that one who has done wrong should not recover from another who may also have done wrong. See also clean hands.

(law) A doctrine of equity under which a court of law will not provide equitable relief to a party whose own conduct has been improper.