FOCL Practice Test

In Joe's act of setting fire to Bill's house, how is he held accountable for the fire that spread to Becky's home?

1. He is not responsible

2. He is responsible due to transferred intent

3. He is only responsible if he had prior knowledge

4. He is responsible for negligence

The correct answer is: He is responsible due to transferred intent

Joe is held accountable for the fire that spread to Becky's home due to the principle of transferred intent. This legal doctrine holds that when an individual intends to harm one person but inadvertently harms another, the intent to harm is transferred from the intended victim to the actual victim. In this scenario, Joe intended to set fire to Bill's house, and even though the fire spread to an unintended target, Becky’s home, Joe’s original intent to commit a harmful act persists. This principle is crucial in understanding liability, as it reinforces the notion that one cannot escape responsibility merely because the actual harm resulted in unintended consequences. The focus here is on the intention behind the act, which directly relates to Joe’s liability for any resulting damage, including that to Becky's property.