Final answer:
Laches is a legal principle on claim dismissal due to delays, while Unclean Hands is a doctrine that requires the plaintiff to be free of wrongdoing in the subject of their claim.
Step-by-step explanation:
The concepts of Laches and Unclean Hands are legal principles used in courts to deny a party's claim or defense. Laches is an equitable defense that argues a claim should be dismissed because of an unnecessary delay that disadvantages the defendant. The principle of Laches is based on the premise that law assists those who are vigilant and not those who sleep on their rights. Therefore, if a party waits too long to bring forth a claim, resulting in evidence being lost or witnesses no longer being available, for instance, the court might dismiss the case on the grounds of Laches.
The doctrine of Unclean Hands is another principle implying that a person who is asking for a legal remedy must be innocent of any wrongdoing or unfair conduct concerning the subject of their claim. It's encapsulated by the maxim "He who comes into equity must come with clean hands." This means the plaintiff's unethical behavior in relation to the lawsuit would prevent them from winning the case. An example might be if a plaintiff is found to have fabricated evidence, the court may determine they have 'unclean hands' and thus refuse to grant relief.