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Intentional Wrong |
By
David Day
Apart from seeking to recover damages resulting from another person's
negligence, injured parties may also seek to hold wrongdoers liable for their
intentional acts, which typically include libel and slander of reputation,
assault and battery, false imprisonment, or intentionally infliction mental
distress. In all such cases, the wrongdoer intentionally causes injury. And,
while certain types of these torts ( such as assault and battery) may also
constitute criminal activity, aggrieved parties seeking to legally address
these wrongs in civil court do so with the intention of being compensated for
their injuries. Recent cases have brought national attention to the fact that
a person can be found not guilty of act in criminal court, but still be found
responsible in civil court.
When an intentional wrong occurs, there is also the possibility of seeking
punitive damages. These damages are intended as more of a punishment and are
not supposed to provide compensation for actual losses.
One of the difficulties in pursuing a claim for an intentional wrongdoing is
that many of these wrongs are not covered by insurance. It is generally a
good idea to evaluate the collectability of any judgment before incurring the
legal expenses associated with such a lawsuit.
Another interesting fact about intentional wrongdoings is that many of such
wrongdoings cannot be eliminated by bankruptcy. You should contact your
attorney to determine if bankruptcy is an option for the wrongdoer if
collectability is an issue. |
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