Which of the following is a tort involving interference with chattel?

• A. Battery
• B. Assault
• C. Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress
• D. Trespass to Chattel

Answer: (D)

Interference with chattel happens when someone intentionally meddles with another person’s tangible property in a way that harms the owner’s use or possession. The tort that fits this description is trespass to chattel: you must have lawful possession of the item, the other person must intentionally interfere with it, and this interference must cause actual damages or a deprivation of use. The key idea is that the owner’s rights to possess and use the item are impaired, but the item isn’t completely taken or destroyed—if the interference is so substantial that the owner is deprived of the chattel’s use for a meaningful period or the item is seriously damaged, it can escalate to conversion, a more severe remedy.

This distinguishes it from the other listed torts. Battery and assault target the person through harmful or threatening contact, not property. Intentional infliction of emotional distress involves extreme or outrageous conduct causing severe emotional distress, again not about interfering with property. So trespass to chattel is the tort that covers harming someone’s tangible property and their use of it.