Civil Law - ✔✔Body of law dealing with civil or private rights. Deals with wrongs originating in
tort or contract law.
Tort - ✔✔private or civil wrong or injury, other than breach of contract, where the court will
provide remedy by action for damages
breach of contract - ✔✔Failure, without legal excuse, to perform any promise which is the
whole or part of a contract
Rule of Precedent - ✔✔Basic concept where current court decisions must follow those made in
cases with similar circumstance
Statue Law - ✔✔Written law that supersedes or amends common law
Damages - ✔✔Compensation in money for the loss or damage suffered
Compensatory Damages - ✔✔Compensation for bodily injury or property damage
General Damages - ✔✔Cannot be determined in monetary terms but reflect an amount the
court believes is necessary to compensate the wronged party fairly
Special Damages - ✔✔Out of pocket expenses
Exemplary or Punitive Damages - ✔✔Damages awarded over and above compensatory
damages. Purpose is to punish and make an example of the defendant.
, Nominal Damages - ✔✔A small monetary award (often one dollar) granted to a plaintiff when
no actual damage was suffered.
Doctrine of Negligence - ✔✔The duty of all persons to exercise due care in their conduct
towards others from which injury may result
Negligence - ✔✔Fault or failure to exercise reasonable care
Strict Liability - ✔✔The person conducting the activity will be found liable in the event of
damage or injury due the hazardous nature of the activity
Occupier - ✔✔A person who has immediate supervision and control of the premises and the
power to admit and exclude the entry of others
Nuisance - ✔✔Everything that endangers life or health, offends senses, violates laws of decency
or obstructs reasonable and comfortable use of property
Trespass - ✔✔An unlawful interference with ones person, property or rights
Criminal Wrong - ✔✔Considered harmful to the state
Criminal Law - ✔✔Primary focus is on punishing the person responsible for the crime
Easement - ✔✔A right of persons to use land belonging to others
False Imprisonment - ✔✔Holding someone without lawful justification in a place agains their
will