Tort

In the common law, a tort is a civil wrong for which the law provides a remedy. The term comes from Law French and means, literally, 'a wrong'. The "law of torts" is a body of civil law or private law that covers the various legal (money damages) and equitable remedies which the law provides for civil wrongs arising from extra-contractual liability, i.e., other than those wrongs which arise from a breach of contractual obligations.

• Australian Tort Law\n* Canadian Tort Law\n* Indian Tort Law\n* United Kingdom Tort Law\n* United States Tort law\n

There is some overlap between tort law and criminal law - some acts may at once constitute both a tort and a crime - and many crimes may be viewed as particularly egregious torts. A cause of action in tort can also be distinguished from a\ncriminal prosecution which may arise from the alleged\nviolation of a criminal statute.\nThe former is typically prosecuted by a private citizen, whereas the\nlatter is prosecuted by the state, and one or both may be brought\nforth independently.\nMoreover, remedies for torts can take the form of compensation for\ndamages or injunctive relief. A criminal\nprosecution usually results in the imposition of a sentence, such as a fine and/or\nincarceration.

See also

Abuse of process,\nDefamation,\nGood faith, \nLegal immunity,\nLoss of consortium, \nInterference with contractual relations,\nMalicious prosecution,\nMalpractice, \nNegligence,\nNegligence per se,\nPassing off, \nProduct liability, \nProximate cause, \nRemedies,\nRes ipsa loquitur,\nSlander and libel,\nTrespass Well-known tort cases: Stella Liebeck v. McDonald's Corporation, Donoghue v. Stevenson, Gutnick v. Dow Jones Category:Civil lawCategory:Torts