Specific Intent vs.

General Intent
Intent Requirement
In order to prove an intentional tort, such as assault or battery, the plaintiff must show that the defendant
intended to commit the tort. Intent may be either specific or general.

Specific Intent
A defendant has specific intent when he or she acts with the intention to cause certain consequences and those
consequences occur.

For example, a defendant swings a baseball bat at a plaintiff’s head, hoping to cause severe injury to the
plaintiff. The bat hits the plaintiff’s head, causing severe injury. The defendant had the specific intent to
commit a battery upon the plaintiff because he or she acted with the intention of severely injuring the plaintiff
and the plaintiff was severely injured.

General Intent
A defendant has general intent when he or she knows with substantial certainty that certain consequences will
occur and those consequences occur.

For example, a defendant pulls a chair out from under a plaintiff as the plaintiff is about to sit down. The
plaintiff falls onto the ground and is injured. Although the defendant may not have intended to injure the
plaintiff, the defendant had the general intent to commit battery because he or she knew with substantial
certainty that pulling the chair out from under the plaintiff would cause him or her to fall onto the ground.