torts
Lawsuit-worthy harmful acts
Torts are civil wrongs—harms one party inflicts on another that aren't crimes but can be grounds for lawsuits.
The field covers negligence, defamation, assault, and similar injuries where the victim seeks compensation rather than criminal punishment.
She's taking a torts class this semester.
In law school, torts is a foundational first-year course.
Civil case initiator
- defendantParty facing charges
- tortfeasorOne liable for harm
- complaintExpression of discontent
- discoveryAct of finding something
deposition · expert witness · settlement · verdict · judgment · appeal · statute of limitations · class action
Failure to exercise care
- defamationFalse statements harming reputation
- nuisanceCause of aggravation
- trespassUnauthorized entry onto property
- assaultViolent offensive act
battery · fraud · malpractice · product liability · wrongful death · personal injury · strict liability · conversion
Obligation to act reasonably
- breachBreaking of agreement
- causationProduction of effects
- foreseeabilityCapacity to be anticipated
- standard of careMinimum acceptable professional conduct
reasonable person · assumption of risk · gross negligence · recklessness · culpability · fault · imputation · burden of proof
Court-ordered behavioral requirement
- restraining orderCourt-enforced avoidance mandate
- restitutionRestoring what was lost
- abatementDecrease in force
- ejectmentLawsuit to recover property
redress · cease and desist · damages · compensation · reformation · rescission
Making up for loss
- punitiveInflicting or intending penalty
- nominalIn designation only
- generalWidespread, not specialized
- specialUnlike the ordinary
economic · non-economic · pain and suffering · lost wages · medical expenses · restitution · indemnity · mitigation
Prior authoritative example
- common lawJurisprudence from judicial decisions
- case lawJudge-made legal doctrine
- attractive nuisanceLegal term for alluring danger
- sovereign immunityState's protection from lawsuits
plaintiff
Civil case initiator
- defendantParty facing charges
- tortfeasorOne liable for harm
- complaintExpression of discontent
discovery · deposition · expert witness · settlement · verdict · judgment · appeal · statute of limitations · class action · contingency fee
negligence
Failure to exercise care
- defamationFalse statements harming reputation
- nuisanceCause of aggravation
- trespassUnauthorized entry onto property
assault · battery · fraud · malpractice · product liability · wrongful death · personal injury · strict liability · conversion · false imprisonment
duty of care
Obligation to act reasonably
- breachBreaking of agreement
- causationProduction of effects
- foreseeabilityCapacity to be anticipated
standard of care · reasonable person · assumption of risk · gross negligence · recklessness · culpability · fault · imputation · burden of proof
injunction
Court-ordered behavioral requirement
- restraining orderCourt-enforced avoidance mandate
- restitutionRestoring what was lost
- abatementDecrease in force
ejectment · redress · cease and desist · damages · compensation · reformation · rescission
compensatory
Making up for loss
special · economic · non-economic · pain and suffering · lost wages · medical expenses · restitution · indemnity · mitigation · quantum
precedent
Prior authoritative example
- common lawJurisprudence from judicial decisions
- case lawJudge-made legal doctrine
- attractive nuisanceLegal term for alluring danger
- legal topicsconstitutional law, criminal code, legal procedures, administrative law, federal law
- law schoollaw school, law schools, law student, law students, law degree
- business lawbusiness law, commercial law, corporation, commercial code, S corp
- lawlaw, lawyer, lawyers, attorney, attorneys
- legallawyer, judge, jury, trial, verdict
- civil litigationlawsuits, plaintiffs, defendants, verdicts, judgments
tortscrimes
Unlawful acts
criminal offenses · felonies · misdemeanors · criminal law · criminal acts
tortscontracts
Enforceable written agreements
contract law · contractual obligations · agreements · covenants · statutory rights
- chocolate torteRich dense cocoa cake
- tort lawRules for civil wrongs
- tort reformCivil justice system changes