Which option best defines a tort?

• A. A contract breach
• B. A civil action
• C. Legal wrong resulting in injury, including omissions and acts intended to cause harm
• D. A criminal offense

Answer: (C)

A tort is a legal wrong that results in injury or loss to another person or their property, for which the law provides a remedy in civil court. It covers both actions and failures to act (omissions) when there is a duty to act and that failure causes harm. This is different from merely breaching a contract, which comes from breaking a promise in an agreement, and different from a criminal offense, which is handled by the state and punished as a crime. In everyday terms, a tort centers on causing someone harm and the civil liability that follows, often through damages or an injunction. For example, in a gym setting, slipping on a wet floor due to inadequate cleaning could lead to a tort claim for negligence.