Legal dictionary · Area 6 of 17

Tort / Civil Liability — EN · ES · IT.

25 terms from Tort / Civil Liability, each with its Spanish and Italian equivalent and a plain-language definition. Open any term for its own page.

English "tort" has no single-word counterpart: Spanish speaks of responsabilidad civil extracontractual and Italian of responsabilità extracontractuale or fatto illecito, both defined by a general clause of the civil code rather than by a catalogue of named torts. Concepts such as negligence, damages (compensatory versus punitive, which most civil-law courts refuse to award) and strict liability therefore need careful handling in certified translations of claims, insurance correspondence and judgments.

Tort / Wrongful act

ENTort / Wrongful act — A civil wrong causing harm that gives rise to liability.
ESHecho ilícito / Acto ilícito
ITIllecito / Fatto illecito

Negligence

ENNegligence — Failure to exercise reasonable care, causing harm.
ESNegligencia / Culpa
ITNegligenza / Colpa

Fault

ENFault — Blameworthy conduct, by intent or carelessness.
ESCulpa
ITColpa

Damage / Harm

ENDamage / Harm — Loss or injury suffered by a person or property.
ESDaño
ITDanno

Material damage

ENMaterial damage — Economic loss capable of monetary valuation.
ESDaño patrimonial / material
ITDanno patrimoniale

Non-material / Moral damage

ENNon-material / Moral damage — Harm to feelings, reputation, or wellbeing.
ESDaño moral
ITDanno non patrimoniale / morale

Personal injury

ENPersonal injury — Physical or psychological harm to an individual.
ESDaño a la persona / lesiones
ITDanno alla persona / biologico

Loss of profit

ENLoss of profit — Profit a party would have earned but for the harm.
ESLucro cesante
ITLucro cessante

Actual loss

ENActual loss — The direct, immediate loss actually suffered.
ESDaño emergente
ITDanno emergente

Causation

ENCausation — The link between conduct and the resulting harm.
ESNexo causal / Relación de causalidad
ITNesso di causalità

Liability

ENLiability — Legal accountability for harm or wrongdoing.
ESResponsabilidad
ITResponsabilità

Strict liability

ENStrict liability — Liability without proof of fault.
ESResponsabilidad objetiva
ITResponsabilità oggettiva

Vicarious liability

ENVicarious liability — Liability for the acts of another, e.g. an employee.
ESResponsabilidad por el hecho ajeno
ITResponsabilità per fatto altrui

Product liability

ENProduct liability — Liability for harm caused by defective products.
ESResponsabilidad por productos
ITResponsabilità da prodotto

Professional liability

ENProfessional liability — Liability of a professional for negligent services.
ESResponsabilidad profesional / mala praxis
ITResponsabilità professionale

Compensation / Damages

ENCompensation / Damages — Money awarded to make good a loss.
ESIndemnización / Resarcimiento
ITRisarcimento del danno

Restitution in kind

ENRestitution in kind — Repairing harm by restoring the original situation.
ESReparación en especie
ITRisarcimento in forma specifica

Contributory fault

ENContributory fault — The injured party's own contribution to the harm.
ESCulpa concurrente
ITConcorso di colpa

Mitigation of damages

ENMitigation of damages — The duty to limit avoidable losses.
ESMitigación del daño
ITRiduzione del danno

Nuisance

ENNuisance — Unlawful interference with the use of property.
ESMolestias / Inmisiones
ITImmissioni / Turbativa

Defamation (civil)

ENDefamation (civil) — A false statement harming another's reputation.
ESDifamación (civil)
ITDiffamazione (civile)

Dangerous activity

ENDangerous activity — An activity creating heightened risk and liability.
ESActividad riesgosa / peligrosa
ITAttività pericolosa

Liability for things in custody

ENLiability for things in custody — Liability for harm caused by things under one's control.
ESResponsabilidad por las cosas / el riesgo
ITResponsabilità da cose in custodia

Punitive / Exemplary damages

ENPunitive / Exemplary damages — Damages meant to punish and deter wrongdoing.
ESDaños punitivos
ITDanni punitivi

Joint tortfeasors

ENJoint tortfeasors — Multiple parties jointly liable for the same harm.
ESCoautores / Responsables solidarios
ITCorresponsabili

This page is for general orientation only. It is not legal advice and does not substitute for advice from licensed counsel in the relevant jurisdiction. Terminology varies between countries and between civil-law and common-law systems; the equivalents shown here are the most common in cross-border practice.

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