Assault: Elements

Assault is intentional act creating reasonable apprehension of imminent harmful or offensive contact.

Representative cases

• Patrick H. Torrence v. Tyler Blue 552 P.3d 489 · Alaska Supreme Court

  “the latter is put in imminent apprehension of such a contact, and an offensive contact results”

• Severance v. Howe 2023 ND 197 · North Dakota Supreme Court

  “an imminent apprehension of such a contact, and (2) an offensive contact”

• Severance v. Howe 2023 ND 197 · North Dakota Supreme Court

  “an imminent apprehension of such a contact, and (2) an offensive contact”

Related Intentional Torts rules

• Intentional Torts: IntentIntent exists when defendant acts with purpose or knowledge to a substantial certainty that harm will occur.
• Battery: ElementsBattery requires intent, harmful or offensive contact, and that contact be with plaintiff's person.
• False ImprisonmentFalse imprisonment is intentional confinement without lawful privilege and without consent.
• Intentional Infliction of Emotional DistressIIED requires extreme and outrageous conduct intended or recklessly causing severe emotional distress.
• Trespass to LandTrespass to land requires intentional physical invasion of plaintiff’s real property.
• Trespass to ChattelsTrespass to chattels involves intentional interference with another’s possessory rights causing actual harm.
• ConversionConversion requires intentional dominion or control over chattel that seriously interferes with plaintiff’s rights.
• Consent DefenseConsent bars liability when plaintiff voluntarily and knowingly agrees to defendant’s conduct.

Part of Torts on Core Legal Rules — foundational MBE-tested principles with primary-source citations.