When an unjustified police action results in the death of a citizen, what civil wrong is described?

• A. Wrongful Death
• B. Manslaughter
• C. Homicide
• D. Civil Battery

Answer: (A)

Wrongful death is the civil claim arising when someone’s death is caused by another person’s wrongful act, negligence, or default. In the policing context, if a citizen dies because of unjustified use of force, the survivors or the deceased’s estate can pursue a wrongful-death action to recover damages for losses like lost financial support, companionship, and funeral costs. This is a civil remedy, separate from any criminal charges that might also apply.

Manslaughter is a criminal charge for unlawfully causing a death, not the civil remedy being described. Homicide is a general term for killing and isn’t a specific civil action. Civil battery involves intentional harmful contact, which could be relevant in non-fatal cases, but wrongful death specifically targets the damages and losses tied to a death.