civil wrong
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: - A legal wrong: In law, a civil wrong is an act or omission that causes harm or loss to an individual or their property, for which the injured party can seek a remedy, typically monetary damages, through a civil lawsuit. It is distinct from a criminal wrong. - The basis for a tort claim: It is the wrongful act that forms the foundation of a tort action, where one person's conduct causes a legally cognizable injury to another.
Usage
- The term is used in legal contexts to categorize wrongful acts that are addressed by civil law, not criminal law.
- It describes the nature of the harm that gives rise to a right to sue for compensation.
Examples
- As a noun:
- Driving negligently and causing a car accident is a civil wrong that can lead to a lawsuit for damages.
- The company's failure to maintain safe premises constituted a civil wrong, making it liable for the customer's injuries.
- Libel, or publishing false and damaging statements, is a classic example of a civil wrong.
Advanced Usage
- "Actionable civil wrong": A wrong for which a legal remedy (a lawsuit) is available.
- Not every minor inconvenience is an actionable civil wrong; the harm must be significant and legally recognized.
- "Remedy for a civil wrong": The legal solution, usually financial compensation (damages), awarded to the injured party.
- The primary remedy for a civil wrong is an award of monetary damages to the plaintiff.
Variants and Related Words
- Tort (n): This is the most common and specific legal term for a civil wrong, other than a breach of contract, for which the law provides a remedy. "Civil wrong" is a broader, more general term that encompasses torts.
- Negligence and trespass are both types of torts.
- Wrongful act (n): A more general, non-technical phrase for an act that is unjust or infringes upon a right.
- Delict (n): A term used in some legal systems, particularly civil law jurisdictions, synonymous with a tort or civil wrong.
Synonyms
- Tort: (The primary legal synonym)
- Wrongful act: (A general synonym)
- Legal injury: (Emphasizes the harm recognized by law)
Related Phrases
- Commit a civil wrong: To perform an act that constitutes a tort.
- By releasing the toxic chemicals, the factory committed a civil wrong against the town's residents.
- Liable for a civil wrong: Legally responsible for the damages caused by the wrongful act.
- The defendant was found liable for the civil wrong of fraud.
Related Idioms
- "Right a wrong": While not exclusively legal, this idiom aligns with the concept of seeking justice or compensation for a harm suffered, which is the goal of a civil lawsuit for a civil wrong.
- She filed the lawsuit to right the wrong done to her reputation.
Noun
- (law) any wrongdoing for which an action for damages may be brought