liable

Liable is an adjective used to describe someone or something that is legally responsible for something, or likely to suffer the consequences of a particular action. In law, liability refers to the state or quality of being bound to answer or compensate for a duty or wrong. A party may be liable for damages arising from breach of contract, negligence, or other wrongful acts, and liability can arise under fault-based regimes, strict-liability regimes, or vicarious liability.

Types of liability include civil liability, which covers private disputes and damage claims, and criminal liability, which involves penalties such as fines or imprisonment for violating the law. Strict liability imposes responsibility without proof of fault in certain contexts, such as some product liability or regulatory offenses. Vicarious liability assigns liability to another party, most commonly an employer for the acts of employees performed within the scope of work.

Liability is distinct from responsibility in common usage; something can be responsible without creating legal liability, and liability can exist even where moral fault is not established. The determination of liability typically involves legal standards, evidence, and sometimes a formal judgment or settlement. Consequences of liability may include monetary damages, restitution, injunctions, penalties, or other regulatory remedies.

Common phrases include being liable for damages, liable to pay a judgment, or liable to be sued. Understanding liability involves considering the relevant area of law (tort, contract, regulatory) and the applicable rules on fault, causation, and proof.