What term describes a deliberate act that causes harm to another person?

The term that describes a deliberate act that causes harm to another person is "Intentional Tort." This legal concept encompasses wrongdoing where an individual intentionally engages in actions that result in injury or damage to another, with specific intent to cause harm or with knowledge that such harm is likely to result.

Examples of intentional torts include assault, battery, false imprisonment, and defamation. The key aspect that differentiates an intentional tort from other types of legal wrongs, such as negligent torts, is the element of intent—intentionally causing harm as opposed to causing harm through carelessness or recklessness.

In contrast, negligent torts arise from a failure to exercise reasonable care, which can lead to accidental harm without deliberate intent to injure. Strict liability pertains to situations where a person can be held liable for damages regardless of fault or intent, often associated with inherently dangerous activities. Criminal acts involve behavior that violates laws and can lead to prosecution by the state, but they are not solely focused on the intended harm to an individual as seen in intentional torts.