Your South Florida Injury Lawyer Defines Intentional Torts

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Davie, Florida, United States of America (Free-Press-Release.com) December 16, 2011 -- Intentional torts, or intentional actions that cause injury to another, can take many different forms. Some common examples of intentional torts include: assault, battery, fraud, invasion of privacy, tortious interference with a contract or business relationship, intentional infliction of emotional distress, or defamation such as libel or slander. Each of these intentional torts arise when someone intentionally does certain actions to cause physical, financial or emotional harm to another person.

Your South Florida injury lawyer knows how devastating the consequences of intentional torts can be on a person’s reputation, health, mental state, and business. As a result, Reifkind & Thompson, P.L., prides itself on representing persons damaged by intentional torts. In order to bring a lawsuit for damages based on an intentional tort, however, you must prove that the proposed defendant committed the tort, that he or she intended the consequences or was substantially certain that the consequences would occur, and that the action was a substantial cause of the resulting harm or injury.
Each individual tort also has specific elements that a person must prove in order to succeed in any making a claim for compensation. To better understand the different causes of action, consider some common types of intentional torts and the specific things you must prove for each.
Battery

Battery is an intentional tort that occurs when a person intentionally touches or makes contact with another person’s body in a harmful or offensive manner. The victim of the battery must not have given the offender consent to touch him or her in that manner. Likewise, the offender must have intended the harmful or offensive contact or must have known that the contact would be reasonably certain to occur because of his actions. The offender need not have intended to cause any specific harm; intending the touching is enough.
Defamation
Defamation is an intentional tort that includes libel and slander. Libel is the publishing of false statements or accusations about a person, or the airing the statements on radio or television. Similarly, slander involves false statements or accusations about a person in spoken form.
Defenses to Intentional Torts

Florida law does set forth some defenses to intentional torts that a person may raise in an intentional tort lawsuit. For instance, a common defense to the intentional tort of battery is that the person acted in self-defense to protect himself; this defense is applicable as long as the force used was reasonably necessary to prevent injury. With respect to a defamation action, the truth of the statements is a common defense. Your South Florida injury lawyer is experienced in responding to these defenses.
Damages in Intentional Tort Lawsuits

Unlike a traditional personal injury lawsuit, a person does not need always need to prove that he or she suffered actual damages in order for the lawsuit to go forward; however, since it may be difficult to place a monetary value on emotional harm, it is often necessary to also prove actual damages as well. For certain intentional torts, the law presumes that the person has suffered emotional and mental distress sufficient for the lawsuit to proceed. An intentional tort lawsuit may result in compensatory damages to an injured victim, as well as punitive damages in some cases. Punitive damages are awarded when it is believed such damages are appropriate to prevent or deter wrongful actions from occurring in the future.
Your South Florida injury lawyer at Reifkind & Thompson, P.L., has years of experience in handling intentional tort lawsuits and other types of personal injury actions. We also represent clients in auto accidents, dog bite injuries, and medical malpractice cases. Contact Reifkind & Thompson, P.L., today at 1-800-HURT-NOW, in order to schedule a consultation regarding your personal injury matter. Consultations take place at our conveniently located offices in Davie, Kissimmee, and other south and central Florida locations.