Legal Definitions - legal wrong

A legal wrong refers to any action or inaction that violates a legal duty or infringes upon a legal right, for which the law provides a remedy. It signifies a breach of the rules or standards established by the legal system, whether those rules are found in statutes, regulations, or common law principles. When a legal wrong occurs, the injured party typically has the right to seek redress through the courts, which might involve financial compensation, an order to stop certain behavior, or other forms of relief. Legal wrongs can encompass civil matters (like contract breaches or personal injury) as well as criminal offenses.

Here are some examples illustrating a legal wrong:

• Example 1: Negligence Causing Injury

  Imagine a homeowner who fails to repair a broken step on their porch, despite knowing it's a hazard. A delivery person, while attempting to deliver a package, trips on the broken step, falls, and breaks their arm. The homeowner committed a legal wrong in the form of negligence.

  Explanation: The homeowner had a legal duty to maintain a safe property for visitors. Their failure to repair the step breached this duty, directly causing injury to the delivery person. This breach of duty, resulting in harm, constitutes a legal wrong for which the delivery person could seek compensation for medical bills and lost wages.

• Example 2: Breach of Contract

  Consider a graphic designer who agrees, through a signed contract, to create a new logo and branding materials for a client by a specific deadline. However, the designer takes on too many other projects and fails to deliver the work on time, causing the client to miss a crucial product launch date.

  Explanation: The graphic designer committed a legal wrong by breaching the terms of the contract. They had a legal duty, established by the agreement, to complete the work by the deadline. Their failure to do so infringed upon the client's contractual rights, and the client could sue for damages representing the financial losses incurred due to the missed launch.

• Example 3: Theft

  Suppose an individual enters a retail store, places several items of clothing into a bag, and leaves without paying for them.

  Explanation: This individual committed a legal wrong in the form of theft. They violated criminal laws designed to protect property rights. The state, on behalf of society, would prosecute this individual, and if convicted, they would face penalties such as fines, imprisonment, or probation, demonstrating the legal system's response to such a wrong.