2Interpretation

### 2 Interpretation > *\[Section 2 Amended by No. 93 of 1973, s. 5 \]*In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears – > > > ***action*** includes a counter-claim and proceedings by way of arbitration; > > > ***court***, used in relation to a claim, means the court before which the claim falls to be determined, and, except in [subsections (6)](#GS3@Gs6@EN) and [(7)](#GS3@Gs7@EN) of section three, includes an arbitrator before whom the claim falls to be determined; > > [*\[Section 2 Amended by No. 39 of 2000, s. 6, Applied:29 Jun 2000\]*](/view/html/inforce/2000-06-29/act-2000-039#GS6@Hpa@EN) > > > [*\[Section 2 Amended by No. 39 of 2000, s. 6, Applied:29 Jun 2000\]*](/view/html/inforce/2000-06-29/act-2000-039#GS6@Hpa@EN) ***damage*** includes loss of life, personal injury, damage to property, economic loss and loss of any other kind; > > > ***dependant*** means a person for whose benefit an action could be brought under the [Fatal Accidents Act 1934](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1934-030) ; > > [*\[Section 2 Amended by No. 39 of 2000, s. 6, Applied:29 Jun 2000\]*](/view/html/inforce/2000-06-29/act-2000-039#GS6@Hpb@EN) > > > [*\[Section 2 Amended by No. 39 of 2000, s. 6, Applied:29 Jun 2000\]*](/view/html/inforce/2000-06-29/act-2000-039#GS6@Hpc@EN) ***plaintiff*** includes a defendant who counter-claims; > > > [*\[Section 2 Amended by No. 39 of 2000, s. 6, Applied:29 Jun 2000\]*](/view/html/inforce/2000-06-29/act-2000-039#GS6@Hpd@EN) ***wrongful act*** means an act or omission that – > > > > > > (a) gives rise to a liability in tort or would, if it caused damage to another person, give rise to a liability in tort; or > > > > > > > (b) amounts to a breach of a contractual duty of care that is concurrent and co-extensive with a duty of care in tort; or > > > > > > > (c) amounts to a breach of a statutory duty – > > > > and includes an act or omission on the part of a person suffering damage that causes or contributes to the damage and that constitutes a failure on the part of that person to take reasonable care for the protection of his or her person or property.