Overview

• ‘Unreasonable conduct that causes harm to another’s property’ is one of the nine forms of aggressing (a breach of the Legal Principle).
• Torts are civil ‘wrongs’ other than breach of contract that cause harm to people. Torts can be intentional or unintentional.
  • Intentional torts:
    • Includes trespass as well as more serious violations like assault, battery, false imprisonment, fraud, etc.
    • Trespass is typically tried in a civil court of law. In contrast, more serious violations can be tried in both a civil court (where compensation is sought for the victim’s damages and the burden of proof is lower) and separately in a criminal court (involving greater punishment, thus requiring a greater burden of proof).
    • Invasions of another’s property and intentionally inflicting emotional distress on another may also qualify.
  • Unintentional torts:
    • Includes Negligence (where unreasonable behavior causes damages) and Trespass that interferes with the quiet and peaceful enjoyment of one’s property.
    • These are less serious violations of the Legal Principle and are therefore generally only tried as civil cases. Most tort law is already compatible with the Legal Principle.
• Local communities must define some nuanced grey areas relating to tort law.