Bradley v. Hunter
Louisiana Court of Appeals
413 So.2d 674 (1982)
J.W. Bradley, a young man with a violent history and a prior threat against Aurila Hunter (defendant), an elderly woman working at her mother's restaurant, cursed and threatened Aurila after she refused to serve him, then left but returned outside flailing his fists and continuing his threats. Aurila grabbed a gun, fired a warning shot when he kept approaching, and then shot and killed him when he continued advancing. J.W.'s children (plaintiffs) sued for wrongful death, and the trial court granted Aurila a directed verdict based on self-defense; the children appealed.
Whether self-defense operates as a complete defense to an intentional tort when the defendant used force she reasonably believed necessary to prevent harm to herself.