Text b Comparison of Crimes and Torts

The definitions of many torts closely resemble definitions of crimes. For example, the tort of conversion in English law covers taking, destroying or selling someone else’s goods, as does the crime of theft. When a tort is committed, the same act is often also a crime. But the essential difference between torts and crimes is that the former are the subject of civil law disputes between private individuals, and the latter are prosecuted by the state. Sometimes as individual takes an action in the law of tort because he has been the victim of the crime but has gained no benefit from the criminal prosecution. Sometimes there is no criminal prosecution because the police do not feel they have enough evidence or they feel that the matter is more of a private dispute than one involving public law and order. And sometimes it is difficult to find a criminal law which covers a tortious act. For example, simply entering land without the owners’s permission is not a crime in English law. It is, however, the tort of trespass. The police cannot take any action unless the trespasser commits certain crimes such as displacing the legal occupier and refusing to leave, threatening violence, or damaging property. In order to prevent trespass or to get compensation for any inconvenience caused, the occupier will therefore have to start a civil action in tort.

There are other differences between torts and crimes. As for all civil actions, the standard of proof required is lower than in criminal prosecutions. And for many torts it is not necessary to show any particular mental element, so tort actions are often appropriate in the case of accidents.

The following table compares these two divisions of law.

Crime	Tort
A public wrong against society "Plaintiff" (prosecutor) is the state (offended person is usually a witness) Mostly statutory law Prosecutor's burden of proof: guilty beyond a reasonable doubt Consent rarely a defense No damages are necessary Basis for criminal guilt: an intentional act, and sometimes gross negligence or recklessness	A private wrong against individuals or businesses Plaintiff is an individual or a business Mostly common law Plaintiff's burden of proof: preponderance of the evidence Consent usually a defense Damages must be shown. Basis for tort liability: an intentional act, negligence, or strict liability

Vocabulary

award v выносить решение; a damages award решение о возмещении убытков / ущерба

battery n побои; оскорбление действием; assault and battery оскорбление действием

breach v нарушать; breach of duty невыполнение / нарушение обязательств

consent n согласие

due care n необходимые меры предосторожности

duty n обязанность

exercise v выполнять

expressly adv явно, определенно (выраженный)

foresee v предвидеть; foreseeable должен быть предсказуем

gain no benefit не получить удовлетворения

implicitly adv косвенно; подразумеваемым образом

inconvenience n неудобство; беспокойство

intentional act n умышленное / преднамеренное действие

invasion n посягательство

liability n ответственность; обязательство; долг; strict liability не подлежащий обсуждению долг

occupier n владелец

passersby n прохожие; passerby n прохожий

prosecutor n обвинитель

proximate adj непосредственный, прямой

rarely adv редко, изредка

reasonable doubt n разумное, обоснованное сомнение

reasonable person n разумный человек

recklessness n небрежность; неосторожность

remedy n средство; judicial remedy n право судебной защиты

seek (sought, sought) v добиваться

statutory law n статутное право; право, основанное / предусмотренное законом

tort n деликт, правонарушение; tortious adj деликтный; tort of conversion присвоение имущества

trespass n посягательство; нарушение чужого правовладения

Reading tasks

Answer these questions.

1 What are torts?

2 What are the reasons for tort?

3 What is the law of torts?

4 What torts are mentioned in the text?

5 Name two torts that are also crimes.

6 In what case will the defendant be ordered to pay compensatory damages and punitive damages?

7 What is commonly believed an amount of punitive damages ("special damages")?

8 What is the essential purpose of the law of torts?

9 What is the main difference between torts and crimes?

10 Why is it often difficult to distinguish between torts and crimes?

11 What are two chief categories of torts?

12 What are intentional torts?

13 Name four examples of intentional torts.

14 What are two categories of intentional torts?

15 What is negligence?

16 Name the basic elements needed to prove negligence.

17 Distinguish between crime and tort.