Deceit Law and Legal Definition
Deceit is the intentional act of misleading a person of ordinary prudence by giving false impression. If a person knowingly or recklessly misrepresent a fact to another he is said to deceit the other. Tortuous liability can be imposed on a person who falsely represents a fact with the intention to make another person detrimentally rely and act upon it. The four elements of the tort of deceit are:
False representation of a fact.
Representation made with the knowledge that it is false.
Intention to make the plaintiff to act upon the belief that the fact is true.
Proof of damage sustained by the plaintiff upon acting on the false information.
Deception may involve dissimulation, distraction, camouflage, concealment, propaganda, or sleight of hand.
