When a house guest maliciously pushes the owner down the stairs, what type of action does this represent?

This scenario exemplifies an intentional tort because the action taken by the house guest—pushing the owner down the stairs—was deliberate and aimed at causing harm. In legal terms, an intentional tort is characterized by actions taken with the intent to bring about a harmful consequence or to cause a specific injury to another person.

Unlike negligent actions, which involve a failure to exercise reasonable care leading to unintentional harm, this situation clearly highlights a purposeful decision to harm someone. Unintentional acts, on the other hand, are generally related to accidents or mishaps without any malicious intent. Strict liability refers to a different legal concept where an individual or entity is held responsible for damages or harm without the need for proof of negligence or intent; this applies typically in cases involving inherently dangerous activities or defective products. Therefore, the malicious intent behind the guest’s action distinctly categorizes this incident as an intentional tort.