Which term refers to actions taken with the intent to cause harm in civil law?

The term that best refers to actions taken with the intent to cause harm in civil law is willful misconduct. This concept involves a deliberate intention to engage in actions that one knows are likely to cause harm or injury to another person. It signifies not just a disregard for the well-being of others but an active will to inflict damage or injury, making it a more serious form of wrongdoing than negligence or other civil law terms.

Willful misconduct is significant in civil law as it can lead to punitive damages, which are intended to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar conduct in the future. This differs from negligence, which is based on a failure to act with reasonable care rather than a conscious desire to cause harm. Nuisance pertains to actions that cause inconvenience or harm without intent, while liability is a broader term that refers to legal responsibility for one’s actions, which can arise from various types of conduct, including willful misconduct.