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actio commodati directa (ak-shee-oh kom-a-day-tI di-rek-ta). Roman law. An action by a lender against a borrower for restitution for an item gratuitously lent.

actio condictio indebiti (ak-shee-oh kan-dik-shee-oh in-deb-a-ti). See condictio indebiti under CONDICTlO. Strictly speaking, the headword is a solecism, since a condictio is a type of actio, but this phrase is occasionally found in legal literature. PI. actiones condictio indebiti.

actio conducti (ak-shee-oh kan-dak-tI). [Latin "action for the thing hired"] An action by the lessee of a thing or the hirer of another's services to enforce the contract or claim damages for breach. Also termed actio ex conducto. Cf. actio locatio

actio confessoria (ak-shee-oh kon-fa-sor-ee-a). [Latin "action based on an admission"] 1. See vindicatio servitutis under VINDICATIO. 2. An action in which the defendant admits liability but does not express it in a fixed sum. A judge therefore assesses the damages.

actio contraria (ak-shee-oh kan-trair-ee-a). Roman law. A counterclaim. Cf. actio directa. Pl. actio contraria.

actio criminalis (ak-shee-oh kri-ma-nay-lis). Roman law. A criminal action. PI. actiones criminales.

actio damni injuria (ak-shee-oh dam-nI in-joor-ee-a). Roman law. An action for damages for tortiously causing pecuniary loss. See actio legis Aquiliae. PI. actiones damni injuriae.

actio de dolo malo (ak-shee-oh dee doh-loh mal-oh). Roman law. An action of fraud . This type of action was widely applied in cases involVing deceitful conduct. Also termed actio doli. PI. actiones de dolo malo.

actio de in rem verso (ak-shee-oh dee in rem var-soh). See action de in rem verso under ACTION (4). PI. actiones de in rem verso.

actio de pauperie (ak-shee-oh dee paw-par-ee). Roman law. An action for harm done by a domestic fourlegged animal.The owner could either pay for the damage or surrender the animal to the injured party. Justinian extended this action to include wild animals in some circumstances. See PAUPERIES.

actio de peculio (ak-shee-oh dee pa-kyoo-Iee-oh). Roman law. An action against a paterfamilias or slave owner concerning the value of the child's or slave's separate funds (peculium). PI. actiones de peculio.

actio de pecunia constituta (ak-shee-oh dee pa-kyoo-nee-a kon-sti-t[y]oo-ta). Roman law. An action on a promise to pay a preexisting debt. PI. actiones de pecunia constituta.

actio de tigno juncto (ak-shee-oh dee tig-noh jangk-toh). [Latin "action for joining timber"] Roman law. An action by the owner of material incorporated without payment into the defendant's building. It was akin to a theft action. The plaintiff could recover up to twice the value of the material. PI. actiones de tigno juncto.

actio depositi contraria (ak-shee-oh di-poz-a-tI kan-trair-ee-a). Roman law. An action that a depositary has against the depositor for unpaid expenses. PI. actiones depositi contrariae.

actio depositi directa (ak-shee-oh di-poz-a-tI di-rek-ta). Roman law. An action that a depositor has against a depositary for the return of the deposited item. PI. actiones depositi directae.

actio directa (ak-shee-oh di-rek-ta). Roman law. 1. An action founded on strict law and conducted according to fixed forms; an action based on clearly defined obligations actionable at law based on a statute or a praetor's edict. 2. A direct action, as opposed to a counterclaim (actio contraria). Cf. actio in factum; actio utilis. PI. actiones directae.

actio doli (ak-shee-oh doh-li). See actio de dolo malo.

actio empti (ak-shee-oh emp-ti). Roman law. An action by a buyer to compel a seller to deliver the item sold or for damages for breach of contract. Also termed actio ex empto. PI. actiones emptio

actio ex conducto (ak-shee-oh eks kan-dak-toh). See actio conductio PI. actiones ex conducto.

actio ex contractu (ak-shee-oh eks kan-trak-t[y]oo). Roman law. An action arising out of a contract. This term had a similar meaning at common law. PI. actiones ex contractu.

actio ex delicto (ak-shee-oh eks da-lik-toh). Roman law. An action founded on a tort. PI. actiones ex delicto.

actio ex empto (ak-shee-oh eks emp-toh). See actio empti.

actio ex locato (ak-shee-oh eks loh-kay-toh). See actio locato.

actio ex stipulatu (ak-shee-oh eks stip-ya-lay-t[y]oo). Roman law. An action brought to enforce a stipulatio. See STIPULATION (3).

actio ex vendito (ak-shee-oh eks ven-da-toh). See actio venditio

actio familiae erciscundae (ak-shee-oh fa-mil-ee-ee ar-sis-kan-dee). [Latin "action to divide an estate"] An action for the partition of the inheritance among heirs. Sometimes shortened to fami/iae erciscundae. See ADJUDICATIO.

actio finium regundorum (ak-shee-oh fi-nee-am ri-gan-dor-am). [Latin "action for regulation of boundaries"] Roman law. An action among neighboring proprietors to fix or to preserve property boundaries. See ADJUDICATIO.

actio furti (ak-shee-oh far-ti). Roman law. An action by which the owner of stolen goods can, according to the circumstances, recover a multiple of their value from the thiefby way of penalty, without prejudice to a further action to recover the goods themselves or their value. See furtum manifestum under FURTUM.

actio honoraria (ak-shee-oh [h]on-a-rair-ee-a). PI.

actio hypothecaria (ak-shee-oh hI-poth-a-kair-ee-a). See HYPOTHECARIA ACTIO.

actio in factum (ak-shee-oh in fak-tam). Roman law. An action granted by the praetor when no standard action was available The closest Anglo-American equivalent is action on the case or trespass on the case. See trespass on the case under TRESPASS. Cf. actio directa; actio utilis.

actio in personam (ak-shee-oh in par-soh-nam). PI.

actio in rem (ak-shee-oh in rem). PI. actiones in rem. 1. See action in rem UNDER ACTION (4). 2. See real action under ACTION (4).

actio injuriarum (ak-shee-oh in-juur-ee-ahr-am). Roman law. An action that lay against anyone who had attacked the body, reputation, or dignity of any person. Also spelled actio iniuriarum. PI. actiones injuriarum (ak-shee-oh-neez in-juur-ee-ahr-am).

actio institoria (ak-shee-oh in-sti-tor-ee-a). [Latin] Roman law. An action against a principal by one who contracted with the principal's business agent, limited to matters arising out of the business. See INSTITOR.

actio judicati (ak-shee-oh joo-di-kay-ti). Roman law. An action to enforce a judgment by execution on the defendant's property. PI. actiones judicatio

actio legis (ak-shee-oh lee-jis). See LEGIS ACTIO.

actio legis Aquiliae (ak-shee-oh lee-jis a-kwil-ee-ee). Roman law. An action under the Aquilian law; specif., an action to recover for loss caused by intentional or negligent damage to another's property. Also termed actio damni injuria; actio damni injuria dati. See LEX AQUILlA.

actio locati (ak-shee-oh loh-kay-ti). [Latin "action for what has been hired out"] Roman law. An action that a lessor (the locator) of a thing might have against the hirer, or an employer against a contractor. Also termed actio ex locato (ak-shee-oh eks loh-kay-toh). Cf. actio conducti.

actio mandati (ak-shee-oh man-day-ti). 1. Civil law. An action to enforce a contract for gratuitous services or remuneration. 2. Hist. An action to enforce a contract for gratuitous services. See MANDATUM. PI. actiones mandati.

actio mixta (ak-shee-oh mik-sta). Roman law. A mixed action; an action in which two or more features are combined, as an action for damages and for a penalty, or an action in rem and in personam. PI. actiones mixta (ak-shee-oh-neez mik-sta).

actio negativa- See actio negatoria under ACTIO.

actio negatoria (ak-shee-oh neg-a-tor-ee-a). Roman law. An action brought by a landowner against anyone claiming to exercise a servitude over the landowner's property. Also termed actio negativa. PI. actiones negatoriae.

actio negatoria- See ACTIO.

actio negotiorum gestorum (ak-shee-oh na-goh-sheeor-am jes-tor-am). Roman law. An action against a gestor for the mismanagement of the principal's property, or for any acquisitions made in the course of management. The gestor could bring a counter action to recover management-related expenses (actio contraria negotiorum gestorum). See NEGOTIORUM GESTOR. PI. actiones negotiorum gestorum.

actio negotiorum gestorum- See ACTIO.

actio non (ak-shee-oh non). [Latin "an action not"], Hist. A declaration in a special plea denying the plaintiff's right to maintain the action. The full phrase was actionem non habere debet (ought not to have or maintain the action). See special plea under PLEA.

actio non accrevit infra sex annos (ak-shee-oh non a-kree-vit seks an-ohs). [Latin "the action did not accrue within six years"], Hist. A plea to the statute of limitations by which the defendant asserts that the plaintiff's cause of action has not accrued within the last six years. PI. actiones non accreverant infra sex annos.

actio non accrevit infra sex annos- See ACTIO.

actio non ulterius (ak-shee-oh non al-teer-ee-as).[Latin "an action no further"] Hist. The distinctive clause in a plea to abate further maintenance of the action. This plea replaced the puis darrein continuance. Cf. plea to further maintenance to the action, plea puis darrein continuance under PLEA. PI. actiones non ulterii.

actio non ulterius- See ACTIO.

actio noxalis (ak-shee-oh nok-say-lis), n. See NOXAL ACTION.

actio Pauliana (ak-shee-oh paw-Iee-ay-na). [Latin action attributed to Paul" or "Paulian action"] An action to rescind a transaction (such as alienation of property) that an insolvent debtor made to deceive the debtor's creditors .o This action was brought against the debtor or the third party who benefited from the transaction. Pi. actiones Paulianae. [A]ctio Pauliana, a name which has been shewn to be inserted by a glossator, after the first publication of the Digest. It lay where the debtor had impoverished himself to the detriment of his creditors, e.g. by alienations, by incurring liabilities or allowing rights to lapse, but not for failing to acquire or for paying just debts .... It lay against the debtor, who might have since acquired property .... But its chief field was against acquirers privy to the fraud, or even innocent, if the acquisition was gratuitous." w.w. Buckland, A Text-Book of Roman Law from Augustus to Justinian 596 (Peter Stein ed., 3d ed. 1963).

actio Pauliana- See ACTIO.

actio perpetua (ak-shee-oh par-pech-oo-a). Roman law. An action that is not required to be brought within a specified time. PI. actiones perpetuae. Cf. actio temporalis.

actio perpetua- See ACTIO.

actio personalis (ak-shee-oh par-sa-nay-lis).Roman law. A personal action. PI. actiones personales.

actio- personalis See ACTIO.

actio pigneratitia (ak-shee-oh pig-na-ra-tish-ee-a), Roman law.An action of pledge; an action founded on a contract of pledge.- Also spelled actio pigneraticia; actio pignoratitia. Also termed pigneratitia actio. See PIGNUS. PI. actiones pignoratitiae.

actio- pigneratitia See ACTIO.

actio poenalis (ak-shee-oh pi-nay-lis). Roman law. An action in which the plaintiff sued for a penalty rather than compensation. Cf. actio rei persecutoria. PI. actiones poenales (ak-shee-oh-neez pi-nay-Ieez).

actio poenalis- See ACTIO.

actio popularis (ak-shee-oh pop-ya-Iair-is). [Latin popular action"] Roman law. An action that a male member of the general public could bring in the interest of the public welfare. PI. actiones populares (ak-shee-oh-neez pop-ya-Iair-eez). Actiones populares. Actions which can be brought by 'any one among the people: ... They are of praetorian origin and serve to protect public interest .... They are penal, and in case of condemnation of the offender the plaintiff receives the penalty paid .... There are instances, however, established in statutes or local ordinances, in which the penalty was paid to the state or municipal treasury, or divided between the aerarium and the accuser, as, e.g., provided in a decree of the Senate in the case of damage to aqueducts." Adolf Berger, Encyclopedic Dictionary of Roman Law 347 (1953).

actio- popularis See ACTIO.

actio praejudicialis (ak-shee-oh pree-joo-dish-ee-ay-lis). Roman law. A preliminary action; an action begun to determine a preliminary matter on which other litigated matters depend. PI. actiones praejudiciales.

actio praejudicialis- See ACTIO.

actio praetoria (ak-shee-oh pri-tor-ee-a). Roman law. A praetorian action; one introduced by a praetor rather than founded on a statute. PL actiones praetoriae (ak-shee-oh-neez pri-tor-ee-I).

actio praetoria- See ACTIO.

actio pro socio (ak-shee-oh proh soh-shee-oh).Roman law. An action brought by one partner against another. See SOCIETAS. Pl. actiones pro socio.

actio- pro socio See ACTIO.

actio Publiciana (ak-shee-oh pa-blish-ee-ay-na). Roman law.An action allowing a person who had acquired bonitary ownership of land to recover it from a third party, so that the person would in due course acquire full title by prescription This action is named for Publici us, who might have been the first praetor to grant the action. Also termed actio Publiciana in rem. See bonitary ownership under OWNERSHIP.

actio Publiciana- See ACTIO.

actio Publiciana in rem See actio Publkiana under ACTIO.

actio quanti minoris (ak-shee-oh kwon-tI mi-nor-is). [Latin "an action for the shortfall in value"],v Roman & civil law. A purchaser's action to recover for his overpayment for a defective item. Cf. actio redhibitoria. PI. actiones quanti minoris. "If a defect appeared which had not been so declared the buyer, if he sued within six months, could claim rescission of the sale by the actio redhlbltoria, and, if within twelve months, could claim the difference between the price paid and the actual value of the defective slave or animal by the actio quanri minoris. In both actions the knowledge or ignorance of the seller was irrelevant: liability was strict." Barry Nicholas, An Introduction to Roman Law 181 (1962).

actio quanti- minoris See ACTIO.

actio quod jussu (ak-shee-oh kwod jas-[yjoo). Roman law.An action against a paterfamilias or a slave owner for enforcement of a debt contracted on behalf of the paterfamilias or slaveowner by a son or a slave.

actio quod jussu- See ACTIO.

actio quod metus causa (ak-shee-oh kwod mee-tas kaw-za). Roman law.An action to penalize someone who wrongfully compelled the plaintiff to transfer property or to assume an obligation. The plaintiff could obtain damages of four times the value of the loss suffered. PI. actiones quod metus causa.

actio quod- metus causa See ACTIO.

actio realis (ak-shee-oh ree-ay-lis). [Law Latin] Hist. A real action. See real action under ACTION (4). PI. actiones reales.

actio realis- See ACTIO.

actio redhibitoria See ACTIO.

actio rei persecutoria (ak-shee-oh ree-I par-si-kyoo-tor-ee-a). [Law Latin "an action for pursuing a thing"] Roman law. An action to recover a specific thing or monetary compensation, rather than a penalty. Cf. actio poena lis. PI. actiones rei persecutoriae (ak-shee-oh-neez ree-I par-si-kyoo-tor-ee-I).

actio rei- persecutoria See ACTIO.

actio rerum amotarum (ak-shee-oh reer-am am-a-tair-am). Roman law. An action to recover items stolen by a spouse shortly before a divorce. PI. actiones rerum amotarum.

actio rerum- amotarum See ACTIO.

actio rescissoria (ak-shee-oh re-si-sor-ee-a). Roman law. An action to restore to the plaintiff property lost by prescription. This action was available to minors and other persons exempt from prescriptive claims against their property. PI. actiones rescissoriae.

actio rescissoria- See ACTIO.

actio servi corrupti (ak-shee-oh sar-vi ka-rap-ti). [Latin] Roman law. An action for corrupting a slave or servant. Since the "corruption" could take the form of bribery to find out the master's confidential business in'formation, one scholar suggested in a famous article that it could be the precursor of the modern law of trade secrets. A. Arthur Schiller, Trade Secrets and the Roman Law: The Actio Servi Corrupti, 30 Colum. L. Rev. 837 (1930). Other scholars strongly disagree (see quotation). "The actio servi corrupti presumably or possibly could be used to protect trade secrets and other similar commercial interests. That was not its purpose and was, at most, an incidental spin·off. But there is not the slightest evidence that the action was ever so used." Alan Watson, Trade Secrets and Roman Law: The Myth Exploded, 11 Tul. Eur. & (iv. L.F. 19 (1996).

actio servi corrupti- See ACTIO.

actio serviana (ak-shee-oh sar-vee-ay-na). Roman law. An action by which a lessor could seize, in satisfaction of unpaid rent, the lessee's personal property brought onto the leased premises. PI. actiones servianae.

actio serviana- See ACTIO.

actio stricti juris (ak-shee-oh strik-ti joor-is). Roman law. A class of personal actions enforceable exactly as stated in the formula without taking equitable considerations into account; an action of strict right. This type ofaction was often used to recover a definite sum of money or a particular object that was the subject of a formal promise (stipulatio). See FORMULA (1). PI. actiones stricti juris.

actio- stricti juris See ACTIO.

actio temporalis (ak-shee-oh tem-pa-ray-lis). Roman & civil law. An action that must be brought within a specified time. Cf. actio perpetua. PI. actiones temporales.

actio temporalis- See ACTIO.

actio tutelae (ak-shee-oh t[y]oo-tee-Iee). Roman law. An action arising from a breach of the duty owed by a guardian (tutor) to the ward, such as mismanagement of the ward's property. PI. actiones tutelae.

actio tutelae- See ACTIO.

actio utilis (ak-shee-oh yoo-ta-lis). Roman law. An extension ofa direct action, founded on utility rather than strict right, available esp. to persons having an interest in property less than ownership. This type of action was modeled after the actio directa. Cf. actio directa; actio in factum. PI. actiones utiles.

actio- utilis See ACTIO.