{"id":353444,"date":"2017-03-30T12:58:21","date_gmt":"2017-03-30T17:58:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/injury\/torts-and-personal-injuries\/defense-of-property-and-intentional-torts.html"},"modified":"2023-08-17T15:19:34","modified_gmt":"2023-08-17T20:19:34","slug":"defense-of-property-and-intentional-torts","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/torts-and-personal-injuries\/defense-of-property-and-intentional-torts.html","title":{"rendered":"Defense of Property and Intentional Torts"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Defense of Property and Intentional Torts<\/h1>\n\n
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\n By FindLaw Staff<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Robert Rafii, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n

In a civil lawsuit, the defendant might admit to causing the plaintiff’s injury. Yet, the defendant might use the defense of property. This means they aren’t legally responsible for the injury if they were simply protecting their home or personal belongings.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

You thought it was bad enough when someone tried to steal your backpack, and you had to chase them down, breaking their arm in the process. But now, the thief is\u00a0suing you in a personal injury case for battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress.<\/p>\n

Thankfully, there are affirmative defenses to such torts<\/a> at your disposal, including the defense of property. Affirmative defenses<\/a> are common arguments that protect a defendant’s actions from incurring liability in a civil case. But whether you will successfully assert these defenses in a civil action depends on the laws of your state and the strength of your argument.<\/p>\n

Read on to learn about the defense of property and intentional torts. You can also get strategic defense advice from a personal injury lawyer<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

What Are Intentional Torts?<\/h2>\n

An\u00a0intentional tort<\/a>\u00a0is a civil wrong committed by a person who intended to act in a way that caused harm to a person or property. Some common tort law examples involving intentional acts are:<\/p>\n