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Simple English definitions for legal terms
Tort Claims Act
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A quick definition of Tort Claims Act:
A tort claims act is a law that allows people to sue the government for the bad things its employees do while on the job. This law makes it so the government can be held responsible for its mistakes, just like regular people and companies. However, there are limits to how much money can be awarded and what kinds of bad things can be sued for. Most states have their own version of this law.
A more thorough explanation:
Tort claims act is a law that allows people to sue the government for the wrongful actions of its employees. This law gives up the government's immunity protection, which means that the government can be held responsible for the actions of its employees.
For example, if a police officer uses excessive force and injures someone, the victim can sue the government for compensation. Similarly, if a government employee causes a car accident while on duty, the victim can file a lawsuit against the government.
However, there are limitations to the government's liability under the tort claims act. For instance, the government is not liable for intentional actions of its employees, and punitive damages are not allowed.
Most states have their own tort claims acts that are similar to the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA). These laws allow people to sue the state government for damages caused by its employees.