FOCL Practice Test

What occurs when a person intentionally causes harm but the result is an unintended injury to another party?

1. Conspiracy

2. Transferred intent

3. Accessory after the fact

4. Collateral harm

The correct answer is: Transferred intent

The situation described involves a scenario where an individual aims to cause harm but inadvertently inflicts injury on a different person. This is where the concept of transferred intent comes into play. Transferred intent refers to the legal principle that allows an individual's intent to harm one party to be applied to another party who is actually harmed, even if the original target was different. In practical terms, if someone throws a rock intending to hit a specific target but instead inadvertently strikes an innocent bystander, the intent to harm is "transferred" to the person who was hurt. Thus, the person who caused the harm can still be held legally responsible for the injury caused to the unintended victim. The other options do not fit this context. Conspiracy involves an agreement between two or more parties to commit a crime, while an accessory after the fact refers to someone who helps another knowing that they have committed a crime. Collateral harm is not a legal concept but rather a general term that can describe unintended consequences of an action. Therefore, transferred intent is the most appropriate term to describe the scenario.