Which term refers to the costs and losses recovered in a civil action?

• A. Damages
• B. Remedies
• C. Redress
• D. Punitive damages

Answer: (A)

Damages refers to the monetary compensation awarded in a civil action to cover losses caused by the defendant’s wrongful conduct. This includes economic harms like medical bills, lost wages, and property damage, as well as non-economic harms such as pain and suffering or emotional distress. The purpose is to restore the injured party to the position they would have been in if the harm had not occurred. Remedies is a broader term that includes other ways to address wrongs (like injunctions or specific performance), redress is a general term for compensation, and punitive damages are a subset of damages aimed at punishing particularly harmful conduct.