Which of the following is an element that must be proven to establish an intentional tort?

To establish an intentional tort, one of the critical elements that must be proven is the intent to cause the action. This means that the individual who committed the tort acted with the purpose or knowledge that their actions would likely result in harm to another party. Intent does not necessarily require a desire to cause a specific injury; rather, it focuses on the volitional action taken and the awareness of the potential consequences.

For instance, if a person deliberately throws an object intending to hit someone, that shows intent. The key factor here is the deliberate nature of the act, which sets intentional torts apart from negligent or accidental harms, where the intent to cause harm is absent. Proving intent is essential as it forms the basis for liability in intentional tort cases. Other elements of an intentional tort may include causation and damages, but the foundational aspect is the intention behind the action.