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Intentional Torts• When someone intentionally injures someone or
interferes with a person’s use of property• Differs from unintentional torts on the basis of
intent– Demonstrated by the persons actions – desire to
bring about a specific result or consequence or be substantially certain that those actions will have that result or consequence
– Actions do not have to result in injuries or interference to the originally intended subject
– E.g. striking another person while trying to strike someone else
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Intentional Torts & Criminal Acts
• Criminal act can result in criminal as well as civil legal action– Criminal law = protection of society/justice– Civil law = compensation to the victim(s)
• Burden of Proof– Criminal = beyond reasonable doubt– Civil = balance of probabilities
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Torts and Crimes
• Crime– Assault– Forcible confinement– Break and enter– Theft
– homicide
• Tort– Battery– False imprisonment– Trespass to land– Conversion, or trespass
to goods– Wrongful death
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Intentional Interference with the Person
• Examples:– Assault, battery, medical battery, false
imprisonment, malicious prosecution, intentional infliction of mental suffering
• Assault– Different from criminal assault– No physical harm necessary• Proof that the plaintiff believed there to be a threat of
imminent harm and the ability of the defendant to carry out that harm
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Intentional Interference with the Person
• Battery– Physical contact without consent• Beyond normal “bumping” in a crowd
– Physical contact does not need to harm, only needs to offend
– Often tried in combination with assault charges
Sexual AssaultSexual Assault Compensation of victimsCompensation of victims Public condemnation of the Public condemnation of the
assailants/perpetratorsassailants/perpetrators
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Intentional Interference with the Person
• Medical Battery– Doctor must obtain a patient’s informed consent
before carrying out a medical procedure– Procedure different than that agreed to– Consent obtained via fraud or misrepresentation– Procedure carried out against patient’s wishes
(DNR, religious convictions)
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Intentional Interference with the Person
• False (wrongful) imprisonment– Confinement without legal justification– Location is not specific to jail/prison– Consent obtained under duress does not
constitute consent• I.e. consenting to a store detective to go to a back
office to avoid embarrassment or situations where you don’t believe you can refuse
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Intentional Interference with the Person
• Malicious prosecution– Wrongful prosecution without a reasonable and
probable cause• Someone must be charged with a crime when there are
no reasonable grounds for a charge• The individual or continuing the proceedings must be
motivated by malice (desire to harm another)• Proceedings must be resolved in the defendant’s
favour• Defendant must suffer damage as a result of the
proceedings
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Intentional Interference with the Person
• Nervous Shock and Mental Suffering– Deliberate shock or acting in a way so as to cause
a person mental anguish resulting in emotional stress and illness
– Defendant’s actions must be extreme and intentional
– Victim must be able to prove mental suffering or physical harm as a result of the defendant’s actions
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Intentional Interference with the Person
• Invasion of Privacy– Evolving area of law– Some jurisdictions don’t yet recognize this as a
tort• May have enacted “protection of personal information
acts”
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Intentional Interference with Property
• Trespass to Land– Intentionally entering property without
permission– Person does not need to be aware that the
property/land is private– Damage to the property is not required– Invited persons who refuse to leave voluntarily
(may be removed by reasonable force)– Certain occupations/duties are permitted by law
to enter your property (assessment, meter reading)
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Intentional Interference with Property
• Nuisance– Prevention of the use/enjoyment of your property
= Private nuisance• Noxious fumes, barking dogs, loud noises• Unreasonable and you must have suffered damage of
some sort• Varies based on neighbourhood/area
– Prevention with the public interest in areas of safety, health, comfort, convenience, or morality• Oil spill, pollution of drinking water
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Intentional Interference with Property
• Trespass to Chattels– Movable property• Jewelry, bicycles, furniture, CDs
– Intentional interference with a person’s chattels– Damage to the chattel need not have occurred
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Intentional Interference with Property
• Conversion– Civil law equivalent of theft– Convert your property for the defendant’s use,
even if temporary
Defences to Intentional Interference
Plaintiff must prove the defendant intentionally committed the tort that caused suffering
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Defences to Interference with the Person
• Consent– Must be voluntary and specific– Proof of consent is on the defendant
• Self-Defence– Use of reasonable force to protect oneself against
injury– Defendant must prove immediate danger and that
the force was necessary to prevent harm
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Defences to Interference with the Person
• Defence to a Third Party– Use of reasonable force to prevent harm to a third
person– Same rules apply – threat/danger must be
immediate and force must be reasonable
• Legal Authority– Right to perform a certain actions based on legal
authority
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Defences to Interference with Property
• Consent– Permission to be on the property– Does not permit you to intentionally damage the
property or abuse the permission
• Defence of Property– Reasonable force to protect property or
remove/eject trespassers
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Defences to Interference with Property
• Legal Authority– Police, public officials
• Statutory Authority– Main defence against nuisance liability– Statute authorizes the activity resulting in the
nuisance• E.g. loud noises as the result of construction
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Defamation of Character
• Unfounded accusations or statements causing injury to a person’s fame, reputation or character
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Defamation of Character
• Slander– Oral statement or gesture that damages a
person’s reputation– Statements must have been made by someone
other than the plaintiff and must have referred to the plaintiff
– Statements must have lowered the plaintiff’s reputation in the eye’s of reasonable person
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Defamation of Character
• Libel– Defamation in a permanent form• Written, recorded, printed, filmed• Cartoons, drawings, carvings
– Libel is considered more serious than slander since the publication is more widespread
– Court presumes your reputation has been harmed provided the libel is proven (special or actual damages need not be proven)
– Damage does not need to be intentional
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Defences to Defamation
• Truth– Strongest defence to defamation suits
• Fair Comment– Comments were honest and made without malice– Opinion statements
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Defences to Defamation
• Absolute Privilege– Performance of official duties– Politicians in Parliament/Legislative Assembly– Statements must be made during court or
legislative proceedings– Even malicious statements are protected
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Defences to Defamation
• Qualified Privilege– Statements made in certain situations are
protected as long as the statements are made without malice
– Applies in situations where someone has a duty to make the statement, or an interest to protect, and the person receiving the statement has an interest in receiving it
– E.g. letters of reference