Summary of Key Tort Law Terminology

## Introduction Tort Law Vocabulary provides essential English terms and short Czech translations used in civil wrongs and personal injury contexts. This guide breaks down key vocabulary into manageable sections, shows comparisons, and gives practical examples so you can recognize, use, and remember terms even if you are studying remotely or not attending classes. ### How to use this guide 1. Read definitions in the quote boxes to anchor each term. 2. Study grouped terms in tables to see relationships at a glance. 3. Try short recall exercises using the Key Points at the end. ## Core Parties and Roles > **Wrongdoer / tortfeasor**: a person who commits a civil wrong. > **Plaintiff**: the person who brings a claim (Žalobce). > **Defendant**: the person accused/responding to the claim (Žalovaný). Practical example: A homeowner (plaintiff) sues a neighbour (defendant) for damaging their fence; the neighbour is the alleged wrongdoer. ## Types of Wrongful Acts (short forms and translations) | English term | Czech equivalent | | --- | --- | | Trespass | Zásah do cizího práva | | Trespass to land | Neoprávněný vstup na cizí pozemek | | Trespass to personal property | Přečin/přestupek rušení držby | | Trespass to person / False imprisonment | Přestupek/přečin proti svobodě člověka / Omezení osobní svobody | | Negligence | Nedbalost | | Malpractice | Profesní nedbalost | | Nuisance / Public nuisance / Private nuisance | Obtěžování/nepřipustný zásah / Zásah do veřejných práv / Soukromé obtěžování | | Defamation / Libel / Slander | Pomluva/urážka na cti / Písemná pomluva / Ústní pomluva | | Strict liability | Objektivní odpovědnost | | Vicarious liability | Zástupní odpovědnost | Did you know that "libel" refers to written or permanent defamatory statements while "slander" refers to spoken defamation, which often requires proof of special damage? ## Fault, Causation and Harm > **Negligence**: failure to take reasonable care, causing foreseeable harm. > **Proximate causation / causal link**: the connection between conduct and damage. > **Damage**: the loss or injury suffered by the claimant (Škoda/újma). - Degree of care (Míra péče) — how careful a reasonable person would be. - Foreseeable harm (Předvídatelná újma) — harm that a reasonable person should predict. - Voluntary act vs omission (Opomenutí) — acting versus failing to act; omissions can sometimes create liability. Practical example: If a shopkeeper fails to clear ice and a customer slips, foreseeability and degree of care determine negligence. ## Remedies and Outcomes | Remedy | Description | | --- | --- | | Damages (Náhrada škody) | Money awarded to compensate loss | | Compensatory damages | Reimbursement for actual loss (medical expenses, lost wages) | | Punitive damages | Additional payment to punish egregious conduct | | To recover damages | To obtain financial compensation | - Lost wages (Ušlá mzda), medical expenses (Výdaje na léčbu), economic losses (Ekonomické ztráty/majetková újma), non-economic losses (Nemajetková újma). Fun fact: In many jurisdictions punitive damages are rare and reserved for conduct that is malicious, reckless, or grossly negligent, not for ordinary negligence. ## Liability Concepts Compared | Concept | When it applies | Example | | --- | --- | --- | | Negligence | Fault based; duty, breach, causation, damage | Driver runs a red light and injures a pedestrian | | Strict liability | Liability without fault | Owner of wild animals harmed by an animal regardless of care | | Vicarious liability | Liability for another's actions | Employer responsible for employee's negligent acts during work | Did you know that vicarious liability often depends on whether the act occurred "in the course of employment" rather than merely the existence of an employer-employee relationship? ## Procedural and Practical Terms > **To bring an action / Podat žalobu**: to start a legal claim. > **To dismiss case / Zamítnout žalobu**: court rejects