An intentional tort occurs if the defendant intended for the physical consequences to happen or knew or should have known that the intended consequences were likely to happen because of his/her conduct.  Defamation, false imprisonment, fraud, invasion of privacy and trespass are some examples of intentional torts.

Four factors are to be proved to establish a claim of intentional tort which include defendant’s duty to the plaintiff, breach of that duty, which was the proximate cause of plaintiff’s injury and the resulting injury for which the plaintiff must be compensated.  The rules covering intentional torts vary in the different states of the United States.  The related law of each state is discussed under the following state links.