Intentional Conduct

Intentional conduct is different then negligence because negligence usually is not intentional, but is the result of carelessness, inattention, or failure to take precautions. Intentional conduct is when someone deliberately does something to harm or kill another person such as hitting them (battery), poisoning them, damaging their property, defaming them with false statements of their character or conduct, infecting them with a sexually transmittable disease, or other knowing and deliberate conduct that causes injury. A person who can prove intentional conduct that produces injury can recover all available damages including punitive damages. Intentional conduct may also be a criminal matter and, if you are the victim of an physical injury that has been caused by someone intentionally, get to the police, seek shelter, and protect yourself from future harm. People who have been the victims of domestic abuse may, in addition to having their battering spouse/domestic partner arrested, seek a restraining order to protect them from further contact, and abuse. This is a civil matter and assistance can often be obtained from the police in filling out these forms.