Which doctrine is used to describe harm to a different person than intended?

• A. General Intent
• B. Specific Intent
• C. Transferred Intent
• D. Negligence

Answer: (C)

Transferring intent is the idea that the mental state to commit a wrongful act can be directed at one person, but the actual harm occurs to someone else. When someone intends to harm a particular person but ends up injuring or affecting another, the intent behind the act is treated as if it targeted the actual victim. This means liability can attach for the unintended victim because the underlying desire to commit the wrongful act was present, even though the target differed.

For example, if a person swings at one person but hits another, the batter’s intent to commit the act transfers to the person who was harmed. This distinguishes transferred intent from general or specific intent; general intent focuses on completing the act itself without requiring a particular result or victim, while specific intent requires a further purpose beyond the act. Negligence, on the other hand, involves a failure to act with reasonable care without any intent to cause harm.