An act is actionable if it is capable of being successfully persued in an action in the civil courts. Not all wrongs suffered by an individual are actionable; if they were, the courtrooms would be even more overcrowded than they currently are. For example, if I visit your house when you are undergoing an emotional crisis, and persuade you to give me some money to go away, this is probably not actionable. It may be underhanded and immoral, but not every immoral act is actionable. There is some vague correspondence between the terms `actionable' and `unlawful'.
Law glossary index
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