Which statement best defines an intentional tort?

• A. an act resulting from negligence
• B. a breach of contract causing damages
• C. a deliberate and purposeful act that will almost certainly cause harm to another
• D. a crime punishable by law

Answer: (C)

An intentional tort is a civil wrong that results from a deliberate act intended to perform the action or done with substantial certainty that harm would result. This means the core requirement is the actor’s mental state: they purposefully engaged in the conduct that caused harm, not merely failing to take reasonable care. That distinguishes it from negligence, which is about carelessness without intent to harm; from breach of contract, which concerns failing to meet contractual duties rather than violating someone’s rights; and from crime, which is a violation of criminal law (though some acts can be both criminal and tortious). The statement describes a deliberate and purposeful act with a foreseeable harmful result, which best captures the essence of an intentional tort and explains why civil liability for damages would follow.