Legal Glossary

Territorial jurisdiction is the procedural rule that shows in which court, geographically, an action is to be filed once the type of court with subject-matter jurisdiction has been determined. The court with general territorial jurisdiction is, in most cases, the court of the defendant’s place of residence; however, special or exclusive jurisdiction rules may exist for contract, tort, immovable property and consumer disputes.

A tort is an event that gives rise to liability for compensation where damage is caused to another by an unlawful and faulty act. In general liability, an unlawful act, damage, fault and an adequate causal link are required. Cases of no-fault liability and of liability for hazardous activities are subject to special provisions.