Self-Defense

Reasonable force may be used to prevent imminent harm; deadly force only when threatened with serious bodily harm.

Representative cases

• Barnes v. State 946 N.E.2d 572 · Indiana Supreme Court
• Lum v. Koles 314 P.3d 546 · Alaska Supreme Court
• Villafranca v. United States 587 F.3d 257 · Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

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

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