Torts are generally addressed through what legal procedure?

Torts are typically addressed through civil actions. A tort refers to a wrongful act or an infringement of a right leading to civil legal liability. Civil actions are lawsuits initiated by individuals or entities seeking compensation for damages or injury caused by another party's actions or negligence. In the context of tort law, the aggrieved party, known as the plaintiff, will bring a case against the alleged wrongdoer, called the defendant, in a civil court.

This legal procedure is distinct from criminal trials, which focus on actions deemed harmful to society as a whole, rather than private disputes. Actions for specific performance and actions for reformation relate to contract law rather than tort law. Therefore, the designation of civil action as the proper procedure for addressing torts is fundamentally rooted in its purpose to resolve disputes and provide remedies for private parties harmed by wrongful acts.