Final answer:
A tort is a breach of duty owed to another person that causes harm; it is not meant to criminally punish wrongdoers and is distinct from criminal law, as it is part of civil law.
Step-by-step explanation:
A tort is a. A breach of duty owed to another person that causes harm. This is a part of civil law where an injured party seeks remedy for a wrong done to them by another party. Torts are not designed to criminally punish wrongdoers, which is the objective of criminal law.
Torts are based on private disputes rather than on public law; they involve compensating the victim as opposed to punishing the offender, unlike criminal cases which involve the government seeking to penalize an individual for an act that is labeled as a crime (felony or misdemeanor).