Latin for Lawyers

ACTIO FURTI

ACTIO FURTI An action brought under civil law to recover a penalty from a thief of goods. ACTIO IN PERSONAM A civil action to enforce rights against an individual. See IN PERSONAM ACTIO IN REM A civil action to enforce rights over an object or a piece of property. See IN REM ACTION [L. actio / action] The initiation of a suit or proceeding to enforce a right or obligation; the suit or proceeding itself. See EX CONTRACTU ; EX DELICTO ; IN PERSONAM ; IN REM ; QUASI IN REM ACTIO PERSONALIS MORITUR CUM PERSONA A personal action dies with the person. This ancient concept is no longer rec ognized in our laws. ACTIO VENDITI A civil action to enforce a contract of sale. ACTORI INCUMBIT ONUS PROBANDI The plaintiff has the burden of proof. ACTUARY [L. actuarius / anything fast or easily moved; a swift-sailing ship; a shorthand writer] A clerk. A person who is employed in mathematical calculations, especially in the calculation of life expectancy, insurance and annuity premiums, reserves and dividends. ACTUM [L. act] An act, a deed, a performance. ACTUS REUS [L. actus / act + reus / the defendant] A criminal act; the “guilty act” or the “deed of crime”; the objective act which defines or constitutes a crime; e.g., the killing of another is the actus reus of murder or manslaughter. See MENS REA

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