In which scenario does the transferred intent doctrine apply?

The transferred intent doctrine applies in scenarios involving intentional torts, particularly in cases of assault and battery. This legal principle allows for the attribution of intent from one act to another. For example, if a person intends to commit battery against one individual but accidentally harms a different person, the law enables that person's intent to "transfer" to the actual victim. As a result, the individual who injured another can still be held liable for the tort despite not intending to harm that specific person.

In the context of assault and battery, the transferred intent doctrine effectively addresses situations where the aggressor's original intent is redirected, thus allowing the victim to seek relief for the harm suffered. This is critical because both assault and battery fall under the umbrella of intentional torts, where the perpetrator's mindset is essential in establishing liability.

Other scenarios, such as negligence or fraud, do not typically involve the same principle because negligence is about the failure to act in reasonable ways rather than an intentional act, while fraud relates to deceptive practices rather than the transfer of intent from one act to another.