Which component is NOT part of the torts of negligence?

In the context of the torts of negligence, the components that must be established include duty, breach of duty, causation (which encompasses both actual cause and proximate cause), and damages. The correct answer highlights that intent is not a requisite element in negligence claims.

Negligence is fundamentally about a failure to exercise reasonable care that results in harm to another person, and it does not require the presence of malicious intent or willfulness. Instead, it focuses on the actions (or inactions) of individuals and whether they deviated from a standard of care that could foreseeably harm others. The emphasis is on whether the defendant acted as a reasonably prudent person would under similar circumstances, which is inherently a matter of conduct rather than intent.

In contrast, the other components—proximate cause, breach of duty, and damages—are clearly foundational to establishing a successful claim of negligence. Proximate cause relates to the foreseeability of the harm caused by the breach of duty. Breach of duty involves demonstrating that the defendant failed to meet the required standard of care. Damages refer to the actual harm or losses suffered by the plaintiff as a result of the negligent conduct. Therefore, the absence of an intent requirement clearly distinguishes negligence from intentional tort