Which of the following is NOT a form of recovery in a tortious action?

In a tortious action, the primary goal is to provide a remedy to the injured party. This typically comes in several forms, including money damages, compensatory damages, and equitable relief. However, punishment is not a form of recovery available in tort law.

Equitable relief typically involves non-monetary remedies, such as injunctions or specific performance, that require a party to act or refrain from acting in a certain way. Money damages refer to monetary compensation awarded to the victim for their losses. Compensatory damages are a specific type of money damage intended to compensate the injured party for actual losses incurred due to the tortious act.

In contrast, punitive damages, which one might think of as punishment, are distinct as they are awarded not to compensate the victim but to deter the wrongdoer and others from committing similar acts in the future. While they serve a punishing purpose, they are not considered a form of recovery in the traditional sense of compensating the harmed party since the primary aim is deterrence. Thus, punishment itself does not fit within the conventional recovery frameworks in tort law.