What does the concept of intentional tort require from the defendant?

The concept of intentional tort requires that the defendant has an intention to commit a harmful act. This means that the defendant must have had a purposeful desire to bring about a specific consequence or to engage in a specific action that they know would likely result in harm to another individual or their property. In an intentional tort, it is not enough for the defendant to have acted negligently or carelessly; the key element is that the act was committed with a deliberate intention to cause harm.

In contrast, a reckless disregard for safety may relate more to negligence rather than intention. Similarly, a failure to act pertains to omissions, which are generally classified under negligence rather than intentional torts. Finally, a breach of duty usually speaks to the failure to adhere to a standard of care expected in various situations, again aligning more with negligence rather than the deliberate actions characteristic of intentional torts. Therefore, the focus on the intention behind the defendant's actions is what specifically defines an intentional tort.