What specific tort is committed when Sam hits Kevin in the face, breaking his nose?

When Sam strikes Kevin in the face and breaks his nose, he is committing battery. Battery is defined as the intentional and unlawful use of force against another person, resulting in either injury or offensive contact. In this instance, Sam’s action of hitting Kevin is a clear demonstration of an intentional act that directly caused physical harm.

For battery to be established, two elements must be present: the intent to make contact and the resulting harmful or offensive touching. Sam deliberately intended to hit Kevin, and the contact resulted in a tangible injury—Kevin's broken nose. This meets the legal criteria for battery.

The other options do not apply in this situation. For instance, negligence involves a failure to exercise reasonable care that results in harm, which does not fit the intentional nature of Sam's actions. Assault typically refers to the act of creating a reasonable apprehension of imminent harmful or offensive contact, but does not require actual contact, making it distinct from battery. Outrageous conduct refers to behavior that is so extreme that it causes severe emotional distress, which is not relevant in this scenario where physical harm occurred. Thus, the correct characterization of Sam's actions is battery.