Simple English definitions for legal terms
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An intentional tort is when someone does something on purpose that hurts someone else. There are different types of intentional torts, like hitting someone (battery), scaring someone (assault), or keeping someone somewhere they don't want to be (false imprisonment). Even if the person didn't mean to hurt someone, if they did something on purpose that caused harm, they can still be held responsible for an intentional tort. Sometimes, the law allows for extra punishment, called punitive damages, if the person's behavior was really bad.
An intentional tort is a type of legal claim that arises when someone intentionally harms another person or their property. This means that the person who caused the harm did so on purpose, rather than by accident. There are several different types of intentional torts, including:
For example, if someone intentionally hits another person, that could be considered battery. Or if someone intentionally locks another person in a room, that could be considered false imprisonment.
It's important to note that intentional torts require intent. This means that the person who caused the harm must have intended to do so. For example, if someone accidentally bumps into another person and causes them to fall, that would not be considered an intentional tort.
Legal codes and statutes provide causes of action for intentional torts, and they may also provide for punitive damages in cases where the defendant's conduct was particularly egregious. For example, California's Civil Code Section 3294 provides for punitive damages in certain cases of intentional torts.
One example of an intentional tort is the case of Garratt v. Dailey. In this case, a young boy intentionally pulled a chair out from under an elderly woman, causing her to fall and sustain injuries. The court held that the boy was liable for the intentional tort of battery, even though he did not intend to harm her. This case illustrates how intent is a key element in intentional torts.
intentional interference with contractual relations | inter alia