Definition of Culpa

Lat. A term of the civll law, meaning fault, neglect or negligence. There are three degrees of culpa,—lata culpa, gross fault or neglect; levis culpa, ordinary fault or neglect; levissima culpa, slight fault or neglect,—and the definitions of these degrees are precisely the same as those in our law. Story, Bailm. § 18. This term ls to be distinguished from dolus, which means fraud, guile or deceit