Legal Definitions - sanctions tort

Definition: Sanctions tort is a legal way to punish someone who has abused the discovery process during a lawsuit. The judge can order the abusive party to pay a fine to the injured party for the discovery violation. This is not a traditional tort, but a form of punishment that results in monetary gain for the injured party.

Example: Let's say that during a lawsuit, one party refuses to provide important documents that the other party needs to build their case. This is a violation of the discovery process. The judge can then order the party who refused to provide the documents to pay a fine to the other party as a punishment for their violation. This fine is called a sanctions tort.

Another example: In a different lawsuit, one party intentionally destroys evidence that could be used against them. This is also a violation of the discovery process. The judge can then order the party who destroyed the evidence to pay a fine to the other party as a punishment for their violation. This fine is also called a sanctions tort.

The examples illustrate how sanctions tort can be used to punish someone who has abused the discovery process during a lawsuit. It is a way to ensure that both parties are playing by the rules and that justice is served.