Intentional Torts Flashcards
Elements of an Intentional Tort
(1) Act
(2) Intent
- Wanted it or new with substantial certainty
- Transferred intent doctrine says it can transfer
(3) Causation
- Must be a substantial factor
Transferred Intent Limitations
(1) Assault
(2) Battery
(3) False Imprisonment
(4) Trespass to land
(5) Trespass to chattels
Battery
(1) Harmful/offensive contact
- Reasonable person standard
- Can be direct or indirect (setting a trap)
(2) To plaintiff
- Anything connected to P
(3) Intent
(4) Causation
Damages for Battery/Assault/False Imprisonment/Trespass to Land
Nominal recovery even if actual damages not proven.
Punitive for malicious conduct
Assault
(1) Reasonable apprehension in P (of battery)
- Reasonable person standard
(2) Immediate harmful or offensive conduct
(3) Intent
(4) Causation
False Imprisonment
(1) Act that confines P to bounded area
(2) Intent
(3) Causation
Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress
(1) Extreme and outrageous conduct by D
- Transcends all bounds of decency
(2) Intent or recklessness
(3) Causation
(4) Damages - severe emotional distress - only intentional tort that requires damages
IIED for Bystander
(1) Prove IIED Elements, or
(1) Bystander present when injury occurred
(2) Close relative of injured
(3) D knew of 1 and 2
Trespass to Land
(1) Physical invasion of P’s real property
(2) Intent
(3) Causation
Trespass to Chattels
(1) D interferes with P’s right of possession (Minor)
- ANY ACT of interference will suffice - mistaken belief not allowed
(2) Intent
(3) Causation
(4) Damages
- Recover loss of use damages (disposed - rent value)
Conversion
(1) D interferes with P’s right of possession (Major - but doesn’t have to be permanent)
- ONLY substantial interference (refuses to return, alters, longer withholding the more it is conversion)
- Accidental damage does not amount do conversion, unless no permission
(2) Intent
(3) Causation
(4) Damages
- Fair market value at time of conversion
D’s Defense to Intentional Tort - Consent
(1) Express consent
- except fraud, duress, D knew of mistake
(2) Implied consent
- Reasonable person would infer from the n circumstances
D’s Defense to Intentional Tort - Defense of Self/Others/Property
(1) When is defense available?
(2) Is mistake allowed?
(3) How much force can be used?
D’s Defense to Intentional Tort - Self Defense
(1) D reasonably believed she is being attacked, and used reasonable force.
(2) Reasonable mistake to existence of danger allowed
(3) Reasonable force (including deadly if reasonable)
- No duty to retreat
- Not available to initial aggressor
- Can extend to third parties
D’s Defense to Intentional Tort - Defense of Others
(1) D must reasonably believe other person could have used force to defend himself
(2) Reasonable mistake as to whether other being attacked allowed
(3) Can use as much force as he would have used had he been the one being attacked
D’s Defense of Intentional Tort - Defense of Property
(1) Only reasonable force allowed after warning to leave (unless that would be futile)
(2) Reasonable mistake on whether intrusion occurred, no mistake allowed if P had privilege
(3) Reasonable force may be used but no deadly force or bodily harm.
D’s Defense of Intentional Tort - Reentry onto Land
Use summary procedure like ejectment - no self help allowed.
D’s Defense of Intentional Tort - Recapture of Chattels
Only peaceful means to recover - force only when in hot pursuit.
(1) Demand it back (unless futile/dangerous)
(2) Only recapture in hands of tortfeasor or party who knew
(3) Enter land - reasonably if on wrongdoer’s land or innocent party/no privilege if owner negligent (wondering cows example).
D’s Defense of Intentional Tort - Privilege of Arrest - Misdemeanor Arrests
Must be a breach of peace committed in arresting party’s presence - reasonable force but no deadly.
D’s Defense of Intentional Torts - Privilege of Arrest - Felony
Police - must reasonably believe felony occurred and the person he arrests committed it.
Citizen - felony must have been committed and reasonable belief person committed it.
D’s Defense of Intentional Torts - Necessity
Only applies to property torts:
1) Public - act is for public good
(2) Private - limited number of people (D must still pay for damage
D’s Defense of Intentional Torts - Shopkeepers Doctrine
(1) Reasonable belief shoplifting occurred
(2) Reasonable manner
(3) Reasonable period of time
D’s Defense of Intentional Torts - Discplining
Parent/teacher reasonable force only
Common Law Defamation
(1) Defamatory language
(2) Of or concerning P
(3) Publication by D to third party (intentionally or neg.)
(4) Damage to P’s reputation
AND if public concern, add constitutional requirements
(5) Falsity of defamatory language - P’s burden
(6) Fault amounting to actual malice
Libel
Written or printed or radio/tv
P need not prove special damages
Slander
Spoken
P needs to prove special damages
Defamation - D’s fault required based on public or private figure
(1) If P is public figure
- D’s actual malice (knowledge or reckless disregard) - damages presumed
(2) If P is private person/public concern
- At least negligence as to statements falsity - damages only for proved injury
(3) If P is private person/private concern
- No fault as to truth or falsity need to be proven - presumed damages under common law rules
D’s Defenses to Defamation
(1) Consent
(2) Truth
(3) Absolute privilege
(4) Qualified privilege
Invasion of Right to Privacy
(1) Using P’s picture or name
(2) Intrusion of P’s affairs or seclusion
- Highly offensive to reasonable person
(3) Publication of facts painting P in false light
- Highly offensive to reasonable person
- If public, must prove actual malice
(4) Publication of private facts about P
- Highly offensive to reasonable person
Intentional Misrepresentation
(1) Misrepresentation of fact
(2) Scienter - D knew or believed it was false
(3) Intent to induce P to act
(4) Causation (reliance)
(5) Justifiable reliance
(6) Damages (actual loss)
Negligent Misrepresentation
(1) Misrepresentation in a business capacity
(2) Breach of duty toward P
(3) Causation
(4) Justifiable reliance
(5) Damages
Interference with Business Relations
(1) Valid contractual relationship exists
(2) D’s knowledge of the relationship
(3) Intentional interference
(4) Damages
Malicious Prosecution
(1) Institution of criminal proceedings
(2) Termination in Plaintiff’s favor
(3) Absence of probable cause
(4) Improper purpose
(5) Damages
Abuse of Process
(1) Wrongful use of process for ulterior motive
(2) Act or threat against P
Negligence
(1) Duty to act as a reasonable person under the circumstances
- Cardozo: only if in foreseeable zone of danger
(2) Breach
(3) Actual and proximate cause
(4) Damage
Basic Standard of Care for Reasonable Person
It is an objective standard - one’s conduct measured against what the average person would do.
-Mental deficiencies not at issue.