Intentional Torts
What is an intentional tort?
A civil wrong committed with intent to perform the act that caused harm.
What is consent?
Voluntary agreement to the conduct, serving as a defense to tort liability.
What are the four elements of negligence?
Duty, breach, causation, and damages.
What are compensatory damages?
Money awarded to compensate for actual losses.
What is strict liability?
Liability without fault for inherently dangerous activities.
What is battery?
Intentional harmful or offensive physical contact with another person.
What is self‑defense?
Using reasonable force to protect oneself from immediate harm.
What is duty of care?
Legal obligation to act as a reasonable person would under similar circumstances.
What are punitive damages?
Damages intended to punish and deter wrongful conduct.
What is product liability?
Liability of manufacturers/sellers for defective products causing harm.
What is assault?
Intentional act creating reasonable fear of immediate harmful or offensive contact.
What is defense of property?
Using reasonable force to protect property, but not deadly force.
What is breach of duty?
Failure to meet the standard of care
What are nominal damages?
Small monetary award recognizing a legal wrong without significant harm.
What is ultrahazardous activity?
Activity so dangerous that strict liability applies regardless of care taken.
What is false imprisonment?
Intentional confinement of a person without lawful justification.
What is privilege?
A legal right allowing conduct that would otherwise be tortious.
What is causation in fact?
The harm would not have occurred “but for” the defendant’s conduct.
What are pain and suffering damages?
Compensation for physical and emotional distress.
What is invasion of privacy?
Interference with a person’s right to be left alone.
What is defamation?
False statements harming another’s reputation, communicated to a third party.
What is necessity?
A defense allowing interference with property to prevent greater harm
What is proximate cause?
Legal cause; harm must be a foreseeable result of the defendant’s actions.
What are economic damages?
Quantifiable financial losses such as medical bills or lost wages.
What is fraud?
Intentional misrepresentation of material fact causing harm.