What is "negligent misrepresentation" in tort law?

Negligent misrepresentation occurs when a party provides false information without exercising sufficient care to ensure its accuracy, leading to harm or financial loss to another party who relies on that information. The key aspect of negligent misrepresentation is the failure to act with the appropriate standard of care expected in a given situation, which results in the dissemination of inaccurate information.

Option C accurately captures this concept by emphasizing the "careless provision of false information." This highlights the negligent (or careless) conduct of the party providing the information, distinguishing it from intentional misrepresentation, where the falsehood is supplied with the intent to deceive.

In contrast, the other options address different concepts or do not accurately reflect the legal principles at play. For instance, providing false information intentionally relates more to fraudulent misrepresentation, which involves intent to deceive rather than mere negligence. Offering advice that leads to financial loss is more related to professional negligence but doesn't specifically deal with the provision of false information. Lastly, making statements without verifying their truth can be part of negligent misrepresentation but lacks the emphasis on the careless aspect that is central to the definition.

Therefore, understanding negligent misrepresentation necessitates recognizing the need for a reasonable standard of care in providing information, which is aptly represented in the correct choice.