Legal Definitions - unde vi

Unde vi is a Latin term originating from Roman law. It refers to a specific legal remedy that allowed an individual who had been forcibly or violently deprived of possession of property to legally reclaim that property. Essentially, it was a legal order designed to restore possession to someone who had been unlawfully and violently removed from it.

Here are some examples illustrating the application of unde vi:

• Imagine a farmer who legally owns and operates a vineyard. One day, a group of armed individuals, claiming a dubious right to the land, violently invades the vineyard, expels the farmer and his family, and takes control of the property. In this situation, the farmer has been violently dispossessed of his vineyard. Under Roman law, he could invoke unde vi to obtain a legal order compelling the invaders to vacate the property and restore possession to him.

• Consider a merchant who stores valuable goods, such as a large shipment of spices, in a rented warehouse. A competitor, seeking to disrupt the merchant's business, hires thugs to break into the warehouse, physically remove the merchant's guards, and seize the entire shipment of spices. The merchant has been violently dispossessed of his goods. He could use unde vi to seek a legal remedy that would force the competitor to return the stolen spices and restore his rightful possession.

• Suppose a craftsman owns a workshop filled with specialized tools and materials. A rival craftsman, through a sudden and forceful takeover, locks the owner out of his own premises, threatening him with violence if he attempts to re-enter. The original craftsman has been violently dispossessed of his workshop and its contents. He would be able to use unde vi to legally compel the rival to surrender the workshop and restore his possession.