Final answer:
The correct option is C. negligence.
Negligence is considered an unintentional tort, distinct from intentional torts like assault, libel, and slander, because it involves harm resulting from a lack of reasonable care rather than a direct intention to harm.
Step-by-step explanation:
The act that is considered an unintentional tort among the options provided is C. negligence. Unlike assault, libel, and slander which require an element of intent or recklessness, negligence arises from a failure to exercise the care that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in similar circumstances. In the case of negligence, there's no need for the action to be intentional; harm can be caused by carelessness or failure to act.
Defamation including both libel (written) and slander (spoken) occurs when false information is presented as fact with the knowledge that it is false or with reckless disregard for the truth. Assault requires an intentional act that causes another person to fear imminent physical harm. Therefore, it is the act of negligence that is typically categorized as an unintentional tort.