Category: Legal Foundations
Written law enacted by provincial or federal legislation that amends common law
Statute Law
Compensation in money for the loss or damage suffered.
Damages
The failure to do something which a reasonable and prudent man would not do.
Negligence
Written defamation that causes injury to a person's reputation.
Libel
The body of law concerned with private rights and remedies.
Civil Law
The concept that current court decisions must follow those made in similar past cases.
Rule of Precedent
Out-of-pocket expenses that can be measured as a specific monetary amount.
Special Damages
An unlawful interference with one's person, property, or rights.
Trespass
Spoken defamation.
Slander
A private or civil wrong or injury, other than breach of contract.
Tort
The failure, without legal excuse, to perform any promise forming part of a contract.
Breach of Contract
Damages intended to compensate for bodily injury or property damage sustained.
Compensatory Damages
A person who has immediate supervision and control of a premises.
Occupier
Holding someone against their will without lawful justification.
False Imprisonment
A right of persons to use land belonging to others
Easement
Doctrine based on the assumption that certain activities are so hazardous that the person conducting them is presumed liable.
Strict Liability
Damages intended to punish defendants for their behavior or make an example of them.
Exemplary/Punitive Damages
Everything that endangers life or health or obstructs comfortable use of property.
Nuisance
Detention with the intent to turn the victim over to police for prosecution.
False Arrest
The most a policy will pay during a period for all provided insurance claims.
Aggregate Limit
Duty of all persons to exercise due care in their conduct toward others to avoid injury.
Doctrine of Negligence
Damages awarded to establish validity of a claim when no substantial loss occurred.
Nominal Damages
Damages that cannot be exactly determined in money but reflect fair compensation.
General Damages
Arresting a person without honest belief a crime was committed, guided by improper motives.
Malicious Prosecution
This term refers to the "complainant" in a civil case.
Plaintiff