Dignitary tort

Type of intentional tort

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Part of the common law series

Tort law
(Outline)
Trespass to the person

* Assault
* Battery
* False imprisonment
* Intentional infliction of emotional distress

Property torts

* Trespass
* land
* chattels
* Conversion

Dignitary torts

* Appropriation
* Defamation
* Unintentional
* False light
* Invasion of privacy
* Intrusion on seclusion
* Breach of confidence
* Abuse of process
* Malicious prosecution
* Sexual torts
* Alienation of affections
* Criminal conversation
* Seduction
* Breach of promise

Negligent torts

* Negligent infliction of emotional distress
* Employment-related
* Entrustment
* Malpractice
* legal
* medical

Principles of negligence

* Duty of care
* Trespassers
* Licensees
* Invitees
* Standard of care
* Reasonable person
* Proximate cause
* Res ipsa loquitur
* Restitutio ad integrum
* Rescue doctrine
* Duty to rescue
* Comparative responsibility
* Contributory negligence
* Attractive nuisance

Strict and absolute liability

* Product liability
* Ultrahazardous activity
* Deep pockets

Nuisance

* Public nuisance
* Rylands v Fletcher

Economic torts

* Conspiracy
* Restraint of trade
* Insurance bad faith (American law)
* Fraud
* Tortious interference

Defences

* Assumption of risk
* Consent
* Necessity
* Statute of limitations
* Self-defense
* Defense of others
* Defence of property
* Shopkeeper's privilege
* Neutral reportage

Liability

* Intentional torts
* Last clear chance
* Eggshell skull
* Vicarious liability
* Respondeat superior
* Volenti non fit injuria
* Ex turpi causa non oritur actio
* Joint and several liability
* Market share liability
* Transferred intent

Remedies

* Damages
* Punitive
* Special
* Incidental
* Injunction
* Tracing
* Detinue
* Replevin
* Trover

Other topics in tort law

* Tort reform
* Non-economic damages caps
* Quasi-tort
* Delict (term used for torts in some civil and mixed legal systems)
* Conflict of tort laws
* Private attorney general
* Class action

By jurisdiction

* Australia
* Canada
* China
* England and Wales
* European Union
* India
* Japan
* Taiwan
* United States

Other common law areas

* Contracts
* Criminal law
* Evidence
* Property
* Wills, trusts, and estates

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In tort law, dignitary torts involve non-physical harm, such as damage to reputation.[1] Historically, this category of torts was often covered by the writ of trespass vi et armis.

Historically, the primary dignitary torts were battery, assault, and false imprisonment, as each claimed harm to a person's human dignity. A cause of action could be brought for battery, for example, even if no injury was done to the plaintiff, so long as the contact would be offensive to a reasonable person. Under modern jurisprudence the category of dignitary torts is more closely associated with secondary dignitary torts, most notably defamation (slander and libel), false light, intentional infliction of emotional distress, invasion of privacy, and alienation of affections. In some jurisdictions, the phrase is limited to those torts which do not require physical injury or threat of physical injury, limiting the class to only those secondary incidents.

The only non-intentional act classified as a dignitary tort is negligent infliction of emotional distress, although this is also sometimes classified as simply another form of negligence.

## References

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### Footnotes

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1. ^ Hall, Kermit L. (2004). "Torts". The Oxford Companion to American Law. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780195088786.

### Bibliography

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* Goldberg, John C.; Sebok, Anthony J.; Zipursky, Benjamin C. (2004). Tort Law: Responsibilities and Redress (1st ed.). New York: Aspen Publishers.

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