What are intentional torts characterized by?

Intentional torts are characterized by deliberate actions taken with the intent to cause harm or apprehension of harm to another person. This means that the perpetrator has a specific aim or purpose in their actions, whether it be to physically injure someone, cause emotional distress, or interfere with someone's personal rights. The hallmark of intentional torts is the presence of intent, distinguishing them from negligence or accidental harm, where the individual did not aim to cause injury.

For instance, if someone physically assaults another person, that act is an intentional tort because the assailant has acted with the clear intention to harm. This category includes other forms of wrongful acts, such as battery, assault, false imprisonment, and defamation, which all require a conscious decision to engage in behavior that causes harm.

In contrast, the nature of intentional torts distinguishes them from negligence or accidental acts, which do not involve an intention to cause harm but rather arise from carelessness or a failure to act as a reasonable person would under similar circumstances. Therefore, the defining characteristic of intentional torts is the deliberate intent to bring about harmful consequences.