Mischief

A specific injury or damage caused by another person's action or inaction. In CIVIL LAW, a person who suffered physical injury due to the NEGLIGENCE of another person could allege mischief in a lawsuit in TORT. For example, if a baseball is hit through a person's window by accident, and the resident within is injured, mischief can be claimed. It is distinct from malicious mischief, which is a criminal act usually involving reckless or intentional behavior such as VANDALISM.