Defined in the Law Reform (Contributory Negligence) Act 1945, as ‘the negligence, breach of statutory duty or other act or omission which gives rise to liability in tort, or would apart from this Act, give rise to the defence of contributory negligence. Under the Employers’ Liability (Defective Equipment) Act 1969 fault means ‘negligence, breach of statutory duty, or other act or omission which gives rise to liability in tort in England and Wales or which is wrongful and gives rise to liability in damages in Scotland’. In professional liability insurance it is a ‘breach of a civil duty.