What must the defendant intend to do in order to establish liability for assault?

To establish liability for assault, the defendant must have the intent to create anticipation of imminent contact. Assault in tort law is defined as an act that places a person in fear or apprehension of harmful or offensive contact, which means that the focus is on the plaintiff's perception and mental state rather than on an actual physical act.

The intent required is not necessarily to cause physical harm; instead, the defendant's action must be purposeful enough to lead the plaintiff to reasonably believe that they are about to be subjected to immediate contact. This distinguishes assault from other torts, such as battery, where actual harmful or offensive contact occurs.

In summary, the correct understanding of assault hinges on the defendant's intention to instill a sense of fear or apprehension of immediate contact, making the establishment of such intent essential for liability in an assault claim.