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Tort

A tort is a civil wrong, other than a breach of contract, for which the law provides a remedy, typically monetary damages. Tort law aims to compensate victims for harm and to deter wrongful conduct. While the term originated in common law, many jurisdictions have similar regimes that address harm through delict, quasi-delict, or similar concepts.

Most tort actions require showing four elements: a duty of care owed by the defendant to the

Common examples include intentional torts such as assault, battery, false imprisonment, trespass, and intentional infliction of

Defenses include contributory or comparative negligence, assumption of risk, consent, privilege, and legal defenses such as

plaintiff,
a
breach
of
that
duty,
causation
linking
the
breach
to
the
injury,
and
damages
suffered
by
the
plaintiff.
Torts
are
often
categorized
as
intentional
torts
(where
the
wrongdoer
intends
the
harm
or
acts
with
substantial
certainty
of
it),
negligence
(breach
of
a
standard
of
care
causing
harm),
and
strict
or
absolute
liability
(liability
without
proof
of
fault).
emotional
distress;
negligence
such
as
car
collisions,
medical
malpractice,
and
slip-and-fall
injuries;
product
liability;
defamation;
nuisance;
and
invasion
of
privacy.
Remedies
typically
consist
of
monetary
damages;
in
some
cases
courts
may
issue
injunctions,
restitutions,
or
specific
performance.
absence
of
duty
or
causation.
In
many
systems,
torts
can
give
rise
to
vicarious
liability
(an
employer
for
employee
acts)
and
to
doctrines
like
res
ipsa
loquitur.
Policy
debates
around
tort
reform
address
damages
caps,
joint
and
several
liability,
and
the
availability
of
punitive
damages.