What intent does a defendant need to have to be liable for trespass to land?

To establish liability for trespass to land, the defendant must have the intent to enter the land or cause a physical invasion. This means that the defendant does not necessarily have to intend to commit a wrongful act or to cause harm; rather, the focus is on the physical presence on the property. If the defendant intentionally steps onto or over the boundary of another's property, that act alone can constitute trespass, even if the defendant believed they were authorized to be there or had no malicious intent.

This intent is often referred to as "specific intent" because it pertains directly to the action of entering or invading the premises. Consequently, an individual can be found liable for trespass even without the awareness that they are trespassing or without any intention to harm the property or its possessor. The key element is the knowledge or intention to be physically present in the location, regardless of the overall ethical or legal implications of that presence.

In contrast, other choices address aspects that, while relevant to different torts, do not accurately capture the specific requirements for trespass. Intent to commit a wrongful act, interfere with rights, or to deliberately cause harm does not form the basis of liability for trespass as these elements pertain more to torts like nuisance or