A willful tort is a type of tort that is committed intentionally and consciously with the wish to harm another person. It is an act that is neither accidental nor due to negligence. Willful tort is often associated with intentional torts, but can also fall under the negligent tort category through willful negligence, in which a person blatantly disregards the foreseeable risks to others associated with their actions. An example of a willful tort is false imprisonment where a person is willfully detained, without consent or authority of the law by another.
[Last updated in July of 2024 by the Wex Definitions Team]