Latest Update 2025-2026
Tort - Answers A civil wrong where one party has acted, or in some cases failed to act, and that
action or inaction causes a loss to be suffered by another party.
Tortious conduct - Answers The wrongful action or inaction of a tortfeasor.
Restatement of Torts - Answers An influential document issued by the American Law Institute
(ALI) summarizing the general principles of U.S. tort law and recognized by the courts as widely
applied principles of law. Note that ALI amended the Restatements twice and therefore these
sources of law are called the Restatement (Second) of Torts and the Restatements (Third) of
Torts.
Intentional torts - Answers A category of torts where the tortfeasor was willful in bringing about
a particular event that caused harm to another party.
Negligence - Answers A category of torts where the tortfeasor was absent of willful intent in
bringing about a particular event that caused harm to another party.
Strict liability - Answers In tort law, where a tortfeasor may be held liable for an act regardless of
intent or willfulness, applying primarily to cases of defective products and abnormally
dangerous activities.
Libel - Answers Written defamation, in which publishing in print (including pictures), writing, or
broadcast through radio, television, or film, an untruth about another that will do harm to that
person's reputation or honesty or subject a party to hate, contempt, or ridicule.
Slander - Answers Oral defamation, in which someone tells one or more persons an untruth
about another that will harm the reputation or honesty of the person defamed or subject a party
to hate, contempt, or ridicule.
Absolute privilege - Answers A defense to a defamation claim provided to government officials,
judicial officers and proceedings, and state legislatures, where the defendants need not offer
any further evidence to assert the defense.
Qualified privilege - Answers A defense to a defamation claim provided for the media and
employers, where the defendants must offer evidence of good faith and be absent of malice to
be shielded from liability.
Trade libel - Answers A tort used to sue where a competitor has made a false statement that
disparage a competing product.
Product disparagement statues - Answers Statutes intended to protect the interest of a state's
major industries such as agriculture, dairy, or beef.