TORT

Tort

An act or omission that gives rise to injury or harm to another and amounts to a civil wrong for which courts impose liability.

Intentional Torts

Wrongs that the defendant knew or should have known would result through their actions or omissions.

Negligent Torts

Occur when the defendant's actions were unreasonably unsafe.

Strict Liability Torts

Do not depend on the degree of care that the defendant used, focusing instead on whether a particular result or harm manifested.

Compensatory Damages

Monetary compensation awarded to an injured party for losses such as loss of earnings, pain and suffering, and reasonable medical expenses.

Punitive Damages

Damages awarded in addition to compensatory damages to deter further misconduct.

Injunction

A court order compelling a party to cease an activity.

Trespass

Entering onto land without consent, which is considered a tort.

Negligence Per Se

A breach of duty established by a statute or regulation, leading to injury suffered by a person within the protected class.

Public Nuisance

Injury caused by intentional, unreasonable interference with a right common to the public.

Private Nuisance

D's recurring activity which unreasonably interferes with P's right to use and enjoy his land.

Battery

Intentionally causing harmful or offensive contact with another person.

Assault

Intentionally causing another to apprehend imminent harmful or offensive contact.

Defamation

A tort involving false statements that harm another's reputation.

Economic Torts

Torts that cause economic harm through interference with business or economic interests.

Restatement of Torts

An influential guide used by courts to interpret tort law.

Gross Negligence

A severe lack of due care that results in harm, potentially implicating both tort and criminal liability.