Torts Flashcards
Elements of Battery
- Intent to cause contact
- Unconsented contact that is harmful or offensive
- Of the plaintiff’s person or effects
Elements of Assault
- Intent to cause apprehension/anticipation of contact
- Apparent present ability (to touch/contact)
- Threatening gesture (usually) that causes
- Well-founded (reasonable) anticipation of unconsented imminent contact
Elements of False Imprisonment
- Intent to Confine
- Unconsented confinement within boundaries fixed by defendant, without reasonable exit apparent
- By unreasonable force, threat of force, or assertion of legal authority
- Knowledge of confinement or harm
Elements of IIED
- Intent (or recklessness) to cause emotional distress
- Extreme and outrageous conduct
- Causation of emotional distress
- Severe emotional distress
Elements of Trespass to Land
- Affirmative Act
- With Intent (I.E. Taking the step - Mistake is not a defense)
- That invades the possessory interest of another in her land
Elements of Trespass to Chattels
- Act by defendant
- With Intent
- Minor invasion of Plaintiff’s chattel interest (dispossession or intermeddling)
- Causation
- Damages (where only intermeddling occurs)
Actions for Intentional Interference with Personal Property
- Major Interference - Conversion
2. Minor Interference - Trespass to Chattels
Elements of Conversion
- Act by Defendant
- With Intent
- Substantial Invasion of Plaintiff’s Chattel
- Causation
Factors to Consider for Conversion
a) Extent of actor’s exercise of dominion or control
b) Actor’s intent to assert a right inconsistent with the plaintiff’s right to control
c) Actor’s good faith
d) Extend and duration of resulting interference
e) Harm done to chattel
f) Inconvenience and expense caused
Examples of Conversion
- Theft (substantial dispossession)
- Destruction or significant, material alteration
- Misdelivery of chattel
- Purchase/receipt of stolen property
- Sale/disposal of stolen property
- Refusal to surrender chattel on demand
- Unauthorized use that causes substantial interference
Three Types of Consent
- Actual Consent - Consent in Fact
- Apparent Consent - Based on appearances (objective manifestations)
- Implied Consent - Not consent at all, policy determination that invasion should not be actionable
Elements of Self-Defense
- Anyone other than an aggressor
- Who reasonably anticipates immediate physical harm
- May use reasonable force in self-defense
Elements of Defense of Others
- Anyone
- Who believes force is necessary to protect another
- May use reasonable force in doing so
Elements of Defense of Property
- A possessor
2. May use reasonable non-deadly force to defend property
Elements of Recapture of Chattels
- A possessor
- Wrongfully dispossessed by fraud or force
- May use reasonable non-deadly force to recapture the chattel
- If there is prompt discovery, demand, and fresh pursuit
Note: Any mistake destroys the privilege