Definition of wrongful act

error, misstatement, or breach of duty by an officer or director of a company that results in a lawsuit against the company. directors and officers liability insurance covers claims arising from wrongful acts by directors or officers of a company while in that capacity. Wrongful acts specifically exclude dishonesty, theft, libel, and slander. During the liability insurance crisis of the 1980s, this type of coverage became unavailable in many industries as wrongful acts received an increasingly liberal interpretation by the courts and many expensive lawsuits were filed against business firms.