Also known as: wantons · wantonly · wantonness · reckless · willful misconduct
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
Conduct that unreasonably risks harm while displaying utter indifference to the consequences. In criminal law the term connotes malice, elevating recklessness to a higher degree of culpability than ordinary criminal negligence.
Willow Walker, a city bus driver, sees a cyclist veer into the lane with several seconds to brake. She keeps her foot on the accelerator instead, striking and killing the cyclist. The prosecution charges murder rather than manslaughter because her decision reflects wanton indifference to human life.
Wilma Wright operates a forklift at high speed through a crowded warehouse without barriers or spotters. She knows the layout creates an obvious risk of collision yet proceeds to finish the job faster. When a runner is struck and killed, her conduct illustrates wanton indifference under tort principles.
Select any source to read its text and confirm it supports the definition.
Wanda Williams, editor of an online news site, publishes a story accusing a public official of corruption based only on an unverified tip and photographs. She makes no effort to check public records or contact the official. The official's defamation suit survives because the publication shows wanton disregard for the truth.
Wayne Walker, a member of a member-managed LLC, orders employees to bypass pressure alarms on a natural-gas line to meet a deadline. He knows the test exceeds safe limits yet authorizes continuation. When an explosion injures a contractor, his conduct breaches the statutory duty of care by constituting reckless conduct.
Whitney White, a general partner in a limited partnership operating charters, departs despite a severe-weather forecast and a broken backup radio. The vessel is damaged and requires costly rescue. Her decision exposes the partnership to liability because it amounts to reckless conduct under the duty of care.
Willow West, a partner in a general partnership, directs a high-pressure pipeline test after safety limits are overridden. She is informed the test now risks rupture yet orders continuation to meet an inspection deadline. The resulting explosion kills a contractor and subjects her to liability for reckless conduct breaching the duty of care.
Wanton conduct requires utter indifference to whether harm results, whereas reckless conduct involves awareness of risk coupled with a hope to avoid harm. The dictionary distinguishes wanton as reckless plus vicious culpability.
Wanton conduct supports abandoned-and-malignant-heart murder when it shows reckless indifference to an unjustifiably high risk to human life. Involuntary manslaughter requires only a lesser, though still culpable, degree of risk.
Yes. The uniform acts define the duty of care to prohibit grossly negligent or reckless conduct, willful misconduct, or knowing violations of law. Wanton conduct falls squarely within the prohibited category.
A public official must prove actual malice, which includes reckless disregard for the truth. Wanton disregard satisfies that constitutional standard and permits recovery of damages.
…conduct unless he proves that the statement was made with "actual malice"that is, with knowledge that it was false or with reckless disregard of whether it was false or not. An oft-cited statement of a like rule, which has been adopted by a number of state courts, is found in the Kansas case of Coleman v. MacLennan, 78…