What is 'malice' under tort law?

What is 'malice' under tort law?

Michael Ehline (Attorney at Law) gives expert video advice on: What is a 'tort of negligence'?; What are the elements of negligent torts?; What is 'standard of care' under tort law? and more...

Malice is conduct engaged in by a wrong doer that may not necessarily be intentional, but is so reckless or egregious. For example, shooting a gun off in a loaded room full of kids. It is just so crazy and reckless that it will be deemed malicious. And because of that, the law implies that the person who acted with malice may be forced to pay things like punitive damages as opposed to just general damages.