A tort is defined as which of the following?

A tort is defined as which of the following?

• A. A wrongful act or infringement of a right leading to civil liability
• B. A criminal offense
• C. A type of contract
• D. A medical procedure

Answer: (A)

A tort is a civil wrong that harms another person and gives rise to civil liability. The key idea is that the wrongdoer must compensate the harmed party, rather than face punishment by the state. This includes actions like negligence (carelessly causing harm), intentional acts (like assault or defamation), or strict liability situations where responsibility arises regardless of intent. This differs from a criminal offense, which is prosecuted by the government and carries penalties such as fines or imprisonment. It also differs from a contract, which is based on voluntary promises between parties and remedies flow from a breached agreement, not from a general civil wrong. A medical procedure is unrelated to civil wrongs and liability terms. For example, slipping on a wet floor because the owner failed to fix a hazard while not warning guests is a tort of negligence, and the harmed person can seek compensation in civil court.

A tort is a civil wrong that harms another person and gives rise to civil liability. The key idea is that the wrongdoer must compensate the harmed party, rather than face punishment by the state. This includes actions like negligence (carelessly causing harm), intentional acts (like assault or defamation), or strict liability situations where responsibility arises regardless of intent.

This differs from a criminal offense, which is prosecuted by the government and carries penalties such as fines or imprisonment. It also differs from a contract, which is based on voluntary promises between parties and remedies flow from a breached agreement, not from a general civil wrong. A medical procedure is unrelated to civil wrongs and liability terms.

For example, slipping on a wet floor because the owner failed to fix a hazard while not warning guests is a tort of negligence, and the harmed person can seek compensation in civil court.