Legal Definitions - suable

The term suable describes something or someone that can be legally challenged or enforced in a court of law. If a person, organization, or an agreement is considered "suable," it means there are valid legal grounds to initiate a lawsuit against them or to compel the performance of an obligation through legal action.

• Example 1: Imagine a construction company that was hired to build an addition onto a house. The contract specified high-quality materials and a completion date. However, the company used substandard materials and missed the deadline, causing the homeowner significant inconvenience and additional costs to fix the shoddy work.

  Explanation: In this scenario, the construction company is suable. The homeowner has legal grounds to file a lawsuit against the company for breach of contract and negligence, seeking compensation for the damages and the cost of repairs.

• Example 2: A pedestrian is walking on a sidewalk when a large, poorly secured sign falls from the front of a business, striking and injuring them.

  Explanation: The business owner is suable because their failure to properly secure the sign led to the pedestrian's injury. The injured pedestrian can initiate a personal injury lawsuit against the business to recover medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages.

• Example 3: Two business partners sign a comprehensive partnership agreement that clearly outlines their responsibilities, profit-sharing arrangements, and procedures for resolving disputes. One partner later attempts to unilaterally change the terms of the agreement and divert company funds for personal use.

  Explanation: The partnership agreement itself is suable. The other partner can take legal action to enforce the original terms of the contract and prevent the first partner from violating the agreed-upon conditions, potentially seeking damages or an injunction from the court.