Which term refers to monetary awards sought due to a tortious act?

The term that refers to monetary awards sought due to a tortious act is compensatory damages. This type of damage is intended to make the injured party "whole" again by providing them with a monetary sum that will cover the actual losses suffered as a result of the tort. These losses can include both economic damages, such as medical expenses and lost wages, as well as non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering. The primary goal of compensatory damages is to restore the injured party to the financial position they would have been in had the tortious act not occurred.

In contrast, punitive damages are aimed at punishing the wrongdoing party and deterring similar conduct in the future, rather than simply compensating the victim for their losses. Legal fees, while a financial burden that one might incur when involved in a tort case, do not directly relate to the compensation for suffering or loss due to the tort itself. Consequential damages, on the other hand, refer to secondary damages that occur as a result of a primary injury but are not directly compensable in the same way that compensatory damages are.