What are general and specific intent torts?

Asked by: Miss Christa Gottlieb  |  Last update: January 2, 2026
Score: 4.5/5 (74 votes)

sufficient for the intentional tort of battery as satisfied by proof of the defendant's specific intent - the defendant desired to bring about the harm for battery (harmful or offensive contact) or general intent - the defendant had knowledge to a substantial certainty that such harm (in this case, harmful or offensive ...

What is the difference between general intent and specific intent torts?

For general intent, the prosecution need only prove that the defendant intended to do the act in question, whereas proving specific intent would require the prosecution to prove that the defendant intended to bring about a specific consequence through his or her actions, or that he or she perform the action with a ...

What is the difference between specific and general intent?

Crimes with general intent involve knowingly committing a criminal act. Specific intent crimes involve knowingly committing the criminal act as well as an intent to cause a particular result by committing the act.

What are general torts?

A tort is an act or omission that gives rise to injury or harm to another and amounts to a civil wrong for which courts impose liability . In the context of torts, "injury" describes the invasion of any legal right , whereas "harm" describes a loss or detriment that an individual suffers.

What is general and specific causation torts?

When group-based statistical evidence is proffered in a case, this means that the substance must be capable of causing the disease (“general causation”) and that the substance must have caused the plaintiff's disease (“specific causation”).

Specific vs. General Intent

23 related questions found

What are the two types of causation?

There are two types of causation in the law: cause-in-fact, and proximate (or legal) cause.

What are the general principles of torts?

Major Principle of Tort Law. It is a legal maxim which generally means that damage without injury. Under this maxim an actual damage has been cause without any infringement of legal rights, This principle simply suggests that if there is no harm to the legal rights of an individual then no liability can arise.

What are the 2 types of torts?

Types of Torts and Examples
  • Intentional torts, where someone intentionally committed a wrong and caused an injury to someone else.
  • Negligent torts, where someone violated a duty they owed to the person harmed, such as running a red light and causing an accident.

What are the most common intentional torts?

Common intentional torts are battery , assault , false imprisonment , trespass to land , trespass to chattels , and intentional infliction of emotional distress .

What are the 4 elements of torts?

The Four Elements of a Tort
  • The accused had a duty, in most personal injury cases, to act in a way that did not cause you to become injured.
  • The accused committed a breach of that duty.
  • An injury occurred to you.
  • The breach of duty was the proximate cause of your injury.

What is an example of specific intent?

In other words, not only do they intend to commit the act, but they also intend for a certain outcome due to their actions. A prominent example of a specific intent crime would be Penal Code 187 PC murder, in which prosecutors must prove that you killed someone and meant to kill them.

Is battery a specific intent or general intent crime?

Battery is an example of a general intent crime.

Is manslaughter specific or general intent?

Manslaughter is the act of killing another human being without malice . It is a general intent crime that is distinct from murder because it requires less culpability . See Homicide .

What is the difference between general intent and specific intent?

Three types of criminal intent exist: (1) general intent, which is presumed from the act of commission (such as speeding); (2) specific intent, which requires preplanning and presdisposition (such as burglary); and (3) constructive intent, the unintentional results of an act (such as a pedestrian death resulting from ...

Is battery a specific intent tort?

Battery is a general intent, rather than a specific intent, offense. This means the actor doesn't need to intend the specific harm resulting from unwanted contact. It's enough that the actor only intends to commit an act of unwanted contact.

What is the difference between general intent and specific intent in Quizlet?

General intent shows intent to do a forbidden act, whereas specific intent shows a purpose that accompanies the intent.

What is the #1 most common type of tort case?

Negligence is by far the most common type of tort.

Negligence occurs when a person fails to act carefully enough and another person gets hurt as a result. For this type of case, a person must owe a duty to another person. Then, they must fail in their duty to act reasonably.

Is tapping someone on the shoulder battery?

So, even if someone is particularly sensitive to any bodily contact by a stranger, it would not be considered battery to tap that person on the shoulder, even if he or she considers it offensive contact. Assault is sometimes used interchangeably with battery in everyday language.

What is the burden of proof for intentional torts?

Intentional torts require the same burden of proof (by a preponderance of the evidence) but one must demonstrate that the defendant intentionally committed the wrongful act, be it fraud, slander, libel, assault, or whatever other intentional tort is alleged.

Is a tort a civil wrong?

A tort is a civil wrong that causes harm to another person by violating a protected right. A civil wrong is an act or omission that is intentional, accidental, or negligent, other than a breach of contract. The specific rights protected give rise to the unique “elements” of each tort.

Can a judge create a new tort law?

In addition, some judges have, on a retroactive basis, created brand new tort claims that have no basis in precedent or state public policy. The courts have, in some instances, acted as legislators.

What is a tort law for dummies?

The concept of tort law is to redress a wrong done to a person and provide relief from the wrongful acts of others, usually by awarding monetary damages as compensation. The original intent of tort is to provide full compensation for proved harms. Lawsuits involving contracts fall under contract law.

What is a general tort?

A tort is a civil wrongdoing—whether intentional or negligent, where an individual suffers a loss or harm, which results in legal liability for the person who causes it.

What is the rule of 7 in torts?

When applied to children and automobile accidents, any child under the age of seven cannot be negligent regardless of their actions; it is presumed that children between the ages of seven to thirteen are not negligent unless their actions are deemed to be unreasonable for someone of that age; and anyone between the ...

What is taking or using someone's personal property without consent called?

Larceny: Trespass is the element of larceny , which means a defendant unlawfully takes away someone's personal property with the intent of depriving permanently at the time of taking.