Also known as: reasonably force · reasonably forced · proportionate force · necessary force
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
Force that is not excessive and that is appropriate for protecting oneself or one's property. It is privileged when used to defend against unprivileged harmful or offensive contact or to prevent intrusion on land or chattels, provided it is not intended or likely to cause death or serious bodily harm.
Ronald Reed stands in a parking lot when an approaching stranger raises a clenched fist and steps forward. Ronald extends his arm and shoves the stranger backward, causing the stranger to stumble but suffer no serious injury. The shove prevents the threatened punch without using deadly force.
Riley Rivera walks along a sidewalk when a distracted pedestrian swings an arm backward while turning abruptly. Riley raises a forearm to deflect the arm and prevent contact with his face. The block stops the negligent movement without causing serious harm to the pedestrian.
Select any source to read its text and confirm it supports the definition.
Rosalind Reed finds a neighbor climbing over her backyard fence to retrieve a lost ball. Rosalind places both hands on the neighbor's shoulders and pushes the neighbor back over the fence line. The push terminates the unprivileged entry onto her land without causing serious injury.
Roger Ramirez feels an assailant grip his forearm with enough pressure to risk fracture. Roger twists his arm free and delivers a single open-hand strike to the assailant's chest. The strike breaks the grip and ends the threat without inflicting permanent injury.
Redwood Bank activates an email filter that rejects incoming messages from a known bulk sender. The filter prevents the sender's automated messages from consuming server capacity. The measure stops the interference with the bank's chattel without causing physical damage.
Raven Logistics implements a query limit on its public database after detecting repeated automated access by an outside firm. The limit reduces server load and preserves system performance. The restriction halts the ongoing intermeddling with the company's chattel.
The privilege arises when an actor reasonably believes another is about to inflict unprivileged harmful or offensive contact. The force used must not be intended or likely to cause death or serious bodily harm. The actor may use the force even if retreat is possible.
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Yes. An actor may use reasonable force to defend against harmful or offensive contact threatened by negligent conduct even when the actor recognizes the conduct as negligent. The same limits on deadly force apply.
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Serious bodily harm differs in kind from ordinary harm and includes injuries creating a substantial risk of death, constituting mayhem, or causing permanent loss of function of an important organ or member. The actor's intent and the likely consequences of the chosen means determine whether the force crosses this line.
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Yes. A possessor may employ reasonable measures such as filters or rate limits to stop intermeddling that harms the possessor's interest in the chattel. The measures must remain proportionate and nondeadly.
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…The Law of Torts § 1.11 (1956). [^maj-8]: Although no State has undertaken to limit the common-law doctrine that one may use reasonable force to resist an unlawful arrest by a private person, at least two States have outlawed resistance to an unlawful arrest sought to be made by a person known to be an officer of the law. R. I.…