COMM231 Chapter Notes - Chapter 3: Assault Causing Bodily Harm, Vicarious Liability, Malicious Prosecution

• School: University of Waterloo
• Department: Commerce
• Course: COMM231
• Professor: Joseph Radocchia

Document Summary

Tort is a wrongful act causing harm to the person or property of another. The purpose of tort law is to compensate victims for harm caused by the activities of others. Usually punishment is left to be dealt with by criminal law, if the conduct (that happened) also happens to be a crime. For example if a person punches a neighbour, the neighbour may sue him for the tort of battery. And the government may also charge him with the criminal offence of assault causing bodily harm. In general, a tort identifies a set of circumstances that creates a right to claim compensation. Tort law attempts to compensate or level the playing field for harm caused. Strict liability liability that was/is imposed based upon causation (actions) regardless of circumstances or fault. Basically, it is the legal responsibility for damages, or injury, even if the person found strictly liable was not at fault or negligent.