Business Law
TORT LAW
Why might a simple act of carelessness
result in legal action?
PRE-LEARNING QUESTION

What is the difference between criminal law
and tort law?
CRIMINAL LAW AND TORT LAW
A crime is an act against not only a specific
individual, but the general welfare, as well.
 A tort is a private wrong committed by one
person against another.

CRIMINAL LAW AND TORT LAW

A tort will lead the wronged party to try and
recover money as compensation for the loss or
injury suffered.
CRIMINAL LAW AND TORT LAW

A tort does not, however, call upon the
government to punish the wrongdoer.
THE CONCEPT OF RIGHTS

Under tort law all people are entitled to certain
rights
 Be
free from bodily harm
 Enjoy a good reputation
 Conduct business without unwarranted interference
THREE ELEMENTS TO ANY TORT
1.
2.
3.
The possession of certain rights by an
innocent party
A violation of those rights by the tortfeasor
A resulting injury that somehow hurts the
person whose rights were violated
INTENTIONAL TORTS

Intentional torts are actions that deliberately
hurt, embarrass, or scare people.
ASSAULT AND BATTERY
The tort of assault occurs when one person
deliberately leads another person to believe
that he or she is about to be harmed.
 The tort of battery involves the unlawful,
unprivileged touching of another person.

ASSAULT AND BATTERY

Raymond slapped his wife Charlotte while they
were arguing about child support. Which tort
did Raymond commit—assault or battery?
 Battery
FALSE IMPRISONMENT

Law enforcement officers must have probable
cause or a warrant to arrest someone, or they
can be sued for false imprisonment, or false
arrest.
DEFAMATION
Defamation is the wrongful act of injuring
another’s reputation by making false
statements.
 Libel is a false statement in written form.
 Slander is a false statement made orally to a
third party.

INVASION OF PRIVACY

Invasion of privacy is interfering with a person’s
right to be left alone, which includes the right to
be free from unwanted publicity and
interference with private matters.
TRESPASS

A trespass is the wrongful damage to or
interference with the property of another.
CONVERSION

Conversion is interfering with a person’s right to
personal property.
NUISANCE

The tort of nuisance is anything that interferes
with the enjoyment of life or property.
DISPARAGEMENT

Disparagement consists of lies about objects.
The lies could be about quality or ownership.