When talking about a legal context, “running at large” means to be at large or free from confinement, control, or restraint. It implies a situation in which an individual, business, or other entity is unconstrained and is thus free to act without hindrance.
The most common use of running at large is in the context of a criminal offender. If a criminal is running at large, she has not been apprehended by authorities and is therefore still free to commit additional crimes or evade arrest. For example, a criminal who has committed multiple robberies and is now on the run from the police is considered to be running at large.
Running at large can also refer to corporate entities. In the legal sense, a corporation that is running at large means it is operating without the controlling influence of the government. In other words, the corporation is free to pursue any business activities, so long as it is not infringing upon any applicable laws. A particularly well-known example is Uber, a ridesharing company that was operating at large in several cities before being officially regulated by the government.
The concept of “running at large” can be applied to other scenarios as well. For example, it can be used to refer to an unsecured debt that is no longer able to be collected from the debtor. In this sense, the debt is running at large and the creditor has no way to contact or collect from the debtor.
Overall, running at large means that an entity has the freedom to operate without being formally constrained by a government authority. Whether it is a criminal on the run, a corporation operating without regulation, or an unpaid debt, “running at large” is a legal term that describes being unconstrained, free, and independent.