Which term refers to the legal harm that initiates a civil action?

Which term refers to the legal harm that initiates a civil action?

• A. Injury
• B. Tort
• C. Breach
• D. Liability

Answer: (B)

In civil law, the thing that starts a lawsuit is a civil wrong that causes harm—the term for that is a tort. A tort covers wrongful acts, whether intentional or negligent, that infringe on another person’s rights and create a basis for civil liability. The harm itself, like an injury, is the consequence of the tort, not the action that initiates the case. Breach, on the other hand, refers to breaking a duty or contract, which can be related to civil lawsuits but is not the general label for the wrongful act that triggers a civil action. Liability describes the legal responsibility to compensate for harm, which is a result of a tort or breach rather than the initiating concept itself. So when a suit is filed because someone’s wrongful act caused harm, that wrongful act is a tort.

In civil law, the thing that starts a lawsuit is a civil wrong that causes harm—the term for that is a tort. A tort covers wrongful acts, whether intentional or negligent, that infringe on another person’s rights and create a basis for civil liability. The harm itself, like an injury, is the consequence of the tort, not the action that initiates the case.

Breach, on the other hand, refers to breaking a duty or contract, which can be related to civil lawsuits but is not the general label for the wrongful act that triggers a civil action. Liability describes the legal responsibility to compensate for harm, which is a result of a tort or breach rather than the initiating concept itself.

So when a suit is filed because someone’s wrongful act caused harm, that wrongful act is a tort.