intentional torts Flashcards
elements of intentional torts (5)
- Voluntary Act
- Intent
- Causation
- Harm
- Lack of Privilege or Defense
transferred intent - 5 types of torts applicable to
- Assault
- Battery
- false imprisonment
- trespass to land
- trespass to chattels
intentional torts - list 7
- battery
- assault
- false imprisonment
- intentional infliction of emotional distress
- trespass to land
- trespass to chattels
- conversion
Intent defined for purpose of an intentional tort
Defendant desires his act to cause resulting harm
or is substantially certain that result will occur.
Was there a desire or purpose to bring about consequences or was there a substantial certainty they would occur
Incompetency, Intent and Intentional Torts
Mental incompetence or status as a minor DOES NOT preclude a finding of intent to commit an intentional tort.
May affect whether such intent actually existed.
At common law, parents are not vicariously liable for the intentional torts of their children.
Defendants Liability and the Voluntary Act Requirement in Intentional Torts
A defendant will not be liable in tort for acts that are not voluntary.
Reflexive acts or unconscious acts are not voluntary.
transferred intent - defined
when defendant acts with intent to commit certain intentional torts but causes injury to some other victim, the intent will be transferred to the other victim
causation - torts - defined
defendants act or
force set in motion by his act
caused injury to the plaintiff
battery - tort definition
intentionally causes a harmful or offensive contact
with plaintiff or with something closely connected thereto
intent - battery
defendant must either:
- desire an immediate harmful or offensive contact; or
- know contact is substantially certain to occur
harmful or offensive contact element for battery
Any amount of physical discomfort is enough.
RP would regard as offensive or
if D knows of particular susceptibility of P, then contact RP would not regard as offensive but P does, it is sufficient.
may be with something close to plaintiff - snatching a hat
plaintiff need not be aware - defendant spits on P while they slept
assault - tort definition
Intentionally causes a reasonable apprehension of immediate harmful or offensive contact
intent element of assault
purpose to create an apprehension
or
apprehension was substantially certain to result from his actions.
Transferred intent is available
reasonable apprehension for assault
if a reasonable person in the same position as P
would have experienced apprehension,
defendant is liable
even if the D lacked ability to cause the contact.
ie. pointing an unloaded gun when P does not know it is not loaded.
false imprisonment defined
intentionally causes confinement or restrained to a bounded area against the will
AND plaintiff knows of the confinement or
is injured thereby
intent element of false imprisonment
- desires to confinement
2. knows confinement is substantially certain to occur
plaintiffs awareness of confinement
P must be aware of confinement or suffer actual harm resulting from confinement.
Sometimes an infant or incompetent individual who is incapable of being aware of confinement can recover for false imprisonment.
Intentional infliction of emotional distress
elements
intentional or reckless act
extreme or outrageous conduct
causes
severe mental distress
intent element of infliction of emotional distress
intend to cause severe mental distress or
be reckless in creating the risk of emotional distress.
Recklessness is the conscious disregard of a high degree of probability that emotional distress will follow
extreme outrageous conduct element of IIED
conduct beyond all bounds tolerated by a civilized society
not merely Offensive or insulting language
Plaintiffs burden re injury suffered as a result of IIED
distress suffered was severe
more than a reasonable person could be expected to endure.
substantial, not trivial or transitory.
Most states do not require actual injury
IIED - conduct directed at 3rd party
If D intentionally or recklessly causes severe emotional distress
- to an immediate family member of the 3rd party where P is present and D is aware of P’s presence or
- to any other P, regardless of relationship, who is present at the time if such distress results in bodily harm.
trespass to land elements
intentional act causing entry (self or something else) of P's land (interfering with P's possessory interests)
Intent element of trespass to land
Need only intend to cause a physical invasion of P’s land.
Mistake is not a defense to a trespass action.
Possession requirement for trespass to land
actual possession or right to immediate possession of the land.
An adverse possessor can maintain action.
An owner who is not in possession may NOT
entry element of trespass to land
Some physical entry required
If noise or odor - probably nuisance
Either by person or causing another or an object
Failure to remove or leave when under a legal duty to do so.
Plaintiffs Land element in Trespass to land action
includes area above and below the surface
Airspace - Immediate reaches of airspace where trespass interferes substantially with the use and enjoyment of P’s land.
ejectment elements
action to recover possession of real property and remove D from property.
- Proof of legal title
- proof of plaintiffs right to possession
- wrongful possession by defendant
Mesne Damages
Compensate for the loss of the use of the land measured by the rental value of the property or the benefit gained by the wrongful possessor, whichever is greater.
Successful plaintiff in Ejectment action is entitled to…
judgement for the recovery of the property and Mesne Damages
Defendant mistakenly trespasses or takes possession or property and makes improvements. Common law result
P is entitled to recover property
no compensation for improvements
good faith does not matter
trespass to chattels
intentional act
interfering or intermeddling
with P’s chattel
resulting in harm
Intent element of trespass to chattels
D intentionally performs physical act that interferes with P’s chattel.
D need not intend or recognize legal significance of the act
Mistake is not a Defense
Chattel defined
tangible personal property
intangible property with a physical representation - promissory note
documents which title to chattel are merged - warehouse receipts or bills of lading
interference element of trespass to chattels
Actionable interference includes dispossession and intermeddling
Dispossession - even if temporary or if D wrongfully refuses to return it
Intermeddling - interference that does not directly affect P’s possession - smearing mud on truck or kicking a dog
plaintiffs possession requirement in trespass to chattels
P must have actual possession or have the right to immediate possession of the chattel to maintain an action
Damages element of trespass to chattels
Actual harm/damages are required - unlike other intentional torts
Include value of loss of use during dispossession or
the cost to remedy an intermeddling
conversion
intentional act
exercises dominion and control
causing serious and substantial interference
with P’s chattel.
intent element of conversion
Mistake is not defense
D need not recognize or intend the legal significance of his act
destruction or serious substantial interference element of conversion
the exercise of dominion and control over the chattel.
More serious than trespass to chattels.
the longer period of interference or the greater use of the chattel by D the more likely it will be considered conversion.
6 factors determining seriousness of interference in Conversion
- extent and duration of D’s dominion or control
- D’s intent to assert a right inconsistent with the others right to control
- D’s good faith
- extent and duration of resulting interference with P’s right of control
- harm done to the chattel
- inconvenience and expense caused to P
recovery available to P in Conversion
recovery damages - FMV of the item at the time of conversion or
replevin/detinue claim and delivery compelling return of chattel with recovery of damages attributable to wrongful detention
D’s offer to return does not alleviate conversion but may mitigate damages if D innocently converted P’s chattel.
replevin
an action at law for the recovery of specific chattels wrongfully taken or detained permitting P to recover immediate possession at the beginning of the action. P must post a bond against possibility of a finding for D. D may post a bond to retain chattel until the action has concluded. No seizure may take place until a hearing has taken place to determine if P is entitled to the chattel.
damages available to P in a replevin action in addition to recovery of chattel
- the difference in MV of the chattel at the time of deprivation and the time the action commenced if chattel is held for sale or the value of lost use (rental income)
- if chattel is not returned, value is present value as determined at trial.
hidden chattels and replevin
if chattel has been hidden or removed from the jurisdiction and cannot be seized then an injunction for equitable replevin may issue
goods recoverable under replevin
tangible personal property only.
not for real property or intangible property.
UCC buyers right of replevin
- buyer has made reasonable effort and is unable to effect cover for goods and
- circumstances reasonably indicate such effort will be unavailing or the goods have been shipped under reservation and satisfaction of the security interest has been made or tendered.