[Solved] What is the common law definition of rape? False Light: A privacy tort involving portraying someone in a misleading way that could harm their reputation. Punitive Damages: Financial compensation awarded to a plaintiff beyond what is necessary to compensate for losses, intended to punish the defendant for egregious conduct. Defendant: The person or party against whom a civil or criminal lawsuit is filed in a court of law. Communications Decency Act: A U.S. federal law enacted in 1996 aimed at regulating pornography on the internet, but also important for its provisions on liability of internet service providers and others for content posted by third parties.