Transferred Intent

What is Transferred Intent?

A doctrine that allows the defendant to be held liable for an intentional tort he inflicted on someone who was not the object of his actions. If the defendant intended to commit an assault, battery or false imprisonment, he may be liable in a tort action even if harm was inflicted on the wrong person.

Further Reading

For more detailed information, see our related Torts terms:

• Breach of Duty
• False imprisonment
• Auto Accident
• Wrongful Death Action

Reviewed by

Stephanie Bagnall

Licensed Attorney and Legal Researcher

Stephanie Bagnall is a Georgia-licensed attorney and legal researcher with experience in accessibility law, compliance, employment law, and legal writing. She helps develop and review BarPrepHero's Legal Terms content for clarity, accuracy, and usefulness to bar exam students.

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