Actio Utilis
Bouvier's Law Dictionary and Concise Encyclopedia · John Bouvier; revised by Francis Rawle · 1914
Bouvier's Law Dictionary and Concise Encyclopedia
An action for the benefit of those who had the beneficial use of property, but not the legal title; an equitable action.
1 Spence, Eq. Jur. 214.
It was subsequently extended to include other instances where a party was equitably entitled to relief, although he did not come within the strict letter of the law and the formulae appropriate thereto.