Tort

Tort, in law, wrongful act involving a breach of a legal duty imposed by law and resulting in injuries to another for which the injured party may institute a civil action for damages. A tort differs from a crime in that a tort is an offence against an individual, whereas a crime is an offence against the state, for which the state inflicts punishment. A tort differs from a breach of contract in that the legal duty breached by the tort is one imposed by the state, whereas in a breach of contract, the obligation breached is one which the contracting parties have voluntarily assumed. However, the same act may be both a tort and a crime, as assault and certain public nuisances; each is a tort because it is an offence against an individual and a crime because it is an offence against society. Torts may also arise out of contractual relations, as the inducement of an individual by fraudulent representations to purchase merchandise. An act may be simultaneously a breach of contract, a tort, and a crime; for example, the misappropriation of funds by a trustee is a breach of the contract of trust, the tort of conversion, and the crime of embezzlement.

Torts may be further classified into wrongs done to the person (such as assault); wrongs to reputation (defamation); wrongs to person or property done unintentionally (negligence); and economic wrongs (such as procuring a breach of contact).