Tort Law Basics: Duties, Breach, Damages, and Defenses

Vocabulary flashcards covering key tort law concepts from the video notes.

Tort Law

The area of law that deals with civil wrongs that cause harm and allow the injured party to sue for damages.

Duty

An obligation not to commit wrongs toward others; duties arise from what you should not do (e.g., not harm others, not steal, meet a standard of decency at work).

Breach of Duty

When you do something you shouldn’t have done, violating your duty.

Damages

The harm or loss resulting from a breach (e.g., medical bills and lost wages); not every claimed amount is recoverable.

Causation

The link between the breach and the damages; some harms may not be caused by the breach.

Remoteness

The concept that some damages are too remote to be legally connected to the breach (not recoverable).

Consent (Defense)

A defense where the injured party consented to the act; for example, if the person begged you to punch them, liability may be barred.

Standard of Care

The level of conduct expected in fulfilling duties; described as the standard of a decent person when performing your job.

Property Damage

Damage to property (e.g., a car) that may or may not be caused by the breach; the law assesses whether the breach caused the damage.