Torts Lecture

8/16/2019 Torts Lecture

1/25

Barbri - Torts Lecture

Intentional Torts

MBE Overview – examiners love it. 1/3 of the torts questions.

General Rules1. The extreme sensitivity of a lainti! is i"nore# in #eterminin" if the

lainti! has a $laim. %e always assume we are #ealin" with a ersonof or#inary or reasona&le sensitivity.

'. (n the worl# of intentional torts) there are no in$aa$ity #efenses. (nmany &ran$hes of a law) there are a lot of eole who la$* le"al$aa$ity +e.".) a $hil#,. -owever) if a $hil# un$hes you in the fa$e)the $hil# is lia&le for an intentional tort +&attery,. The same is true fora mental ill erson.

a. (f you see an answer on the MBE that refers to la$*in" le"al$aa$ity for an intentional tort) never i$* it.

3. ll intentional torts require intent.

(n#ivi#ually ame# (ntentional Torts – 0even +,1. Battery

a. (ntenti. 2eli&erately an# on urose.ii. #efen#ant is a$tin" intentionally if he #esires to &rin"

a&out the forbidden result or *nows that the result is$ertain to o$$ur.

&. To $ommit a harmful or o!ensive $onta$ti. -armful

1. Too easy to test – it4s a $onta$t that uts you in thehosital) that ma*es you &lee#) or *ills you.

ii. O!esnive1. More li*ely.'. 0u&stitute 5unermitte#5 for the $on$et of

o!ensiveness. 6ertains to a erson of reasona&lean# or#inary sensitivity.

a. E.".) unwante# sexual tou$hin") even if it4s notin an intimate art of the &o#y) is always

o!ensive.$. %ith the lainti!4s erson.

i. nythin" the erson is hol#in" or $onne$te# to is$onsi#ere# a art of the erson.

1. E.".) someone 7ums on your $ar while you4re #rivin"it. Battery.

'. E.".) a "irl is ri#in" a horse an# a stran"er slas the&utt of the horse. Battery.

1


2/25

#. &attery nee# not ro#u$e instantaneous harm or o!ensei. E.".) oisonin" a san#wi$h two hours &efore its eaten is still

a &attery.

'. ssault

a. (ntent&. The #efen#ant must la$e the lainti! in reasona&learehension

i. 5rehension5 – it $ommuni$ates somethin" that $oul# &emislea#in". rehension #oes not 7ust mean fear it alsomeans *nowle#"e or awareness.

ii. 8ear is not require# if the erson is small an# you4re hu"e)the small erson $an still $ommit an assault.

iii. -owever) a lainti! has to *now that it4s $omin". 6lainti! must see it $omin" an# &e aware of the #efen#ant4s a$tion.

iv. 9nloa#e# Gun 6ro&lem/Emty Threat:

1. %hat if #efen#ant urorts to en"a"e in threatenin"$on#u$t; But we rea# information that the#efen#ant $annot &rin" that threat to $on$lusion. (sthere an assault;

a. (f the lainti! *nows that the "un isn4t loa#e#)then there is no tort.

&. But) if the lainti! thin*s an unloa#e# "un may&e loa#e#) then it4s an assault.

$. (f the lainti! has no information) then loo* atwhat a reasonable erson woul# thin*.

$. Of an imme#iate &attery

i. %or#s alone la$* imme#ia$y – a ver&al threat) &y itself) isnot an assault. There must &e $on#u$t) not 7ust wor#s +i.e.)there has to &e a 5mena$in" "esture5,

ii. %or#s $an ne"ate imme#ia$y1. st in a mena$in" way? if

you weren4t my &est frien#) ( woul# &eat the $ra outof you@5 o assault.

'. %or#s romisin" future a$tion – 5=raises >st in amena$in" way? tomorrow) (4m "oin" to &eat the $raout of you.5

3. 8alse (mrisonment – surrisin"ly oular on the MBE

a. (ntent&. 2efen#ant $ommits an $t of Restraint

i. 6hysi$al restraint is o&vious) &ut a threat $an also &esuA$ient.

1. Threats only wor* if it woul# oerate on the min# of an or#inarily an# reasona&ly sensitive erson.

'


3/25

ii. n omission +failure to a$t, $an &e an a$t of restraint if youhave a reexistin" #uty to hel the lainti! "et from oint to oint B

iii. n a$t of restraint #oes not $ount for le"al uroses unlessthe lainti! is aware of or harme# &y the $on>nement

$. 6lainti! must &e ne# %ithin a Boun#e# reai. 5&oun#e# area5 #oes not have to &e mar*e# out &yhysi$al &oun#aries) an# it $an &e aroximate.

1. (f ( say) 5(f you leave this "eneral area) ( will shootyou.5 – this $ounts for a &oun#e# area

ii. n area is not 5&oun#e#5 if there is a reasona&le means of es$ae that the lainti! $an reasona&ly #is$over.

1. ou4re not lo$*e# in if you $an "et out. But) if theway out is #an"erous) #is"ustin") humiliatin") orhi##en) then it is a &oun#e# area an# there is a vali#$ause of a$tion.

C. (ntentional (nDi$tion of Mental +Emotional, 2istressa. Relaxe# intent requirement.

i. lies if you4re a$tin" re$*lessly&. Outra"eous


4/25

$. 0u!er 0evere 2istressi. 6lainti! $an rove severe #istress throu"h any evi#en$e he

$hooses1. o requirement for $ertain tyes of evi#en$e

ii. Exam advice: %hen they test on this) they will ne"ate

this element in the fa$ts they stiulate to the oosite &utin a way that4s in$onsi$uous.1. E.".) 56atri$ia was mil#ly annoye# &y these

&ehaviors) so she sue# for ((E2.5 Mil#ly annoye# isthe oosite of severe #istress.

. Tresass to Han#a. (ntent&. $t of hysi$al invasion

i. Enterin" someone else4s roerty1. 2efen#ant #oesn4t have to &e aware that he has

$rosse# a roerty line. The only intent require# isthe intent to "et to that lo$ation mista*e a&outentitlement to &e there is not a #efense.

ii. 6ro7e$tin" an o&7e$t onto the lan# – $ausin" an o&7e$t to "oon the roerty.

1. The o&7e$t must &e tan"i&le'. O#ors) soun# waves) an# li"ht #o not $ount

$. (nterferen$e with lainti!4s ex$lusive ossession of real estatei. The roer lainti! is the ossessor of the real estate –

e.".) the renter of the real estateii. Ex$lusive ossession in$lu#es the air a&ove an# the soil

&elow the lan#) &ut only out to a reasona&le #istan$eI. Tresass to


5/25

Armative 2efenses to (ntentional Torts1.


6/25

a. E.".) ( tell you that (4ll un$h you in the fa$etomorrow. ou hit me as ( tell you that. That4snot selfJ#efense.

&. E.".) ( hit you an# wal* away. ou $hase me#own after the fa$t an# un$h me.

ii. Reasona&le &elief that the threat is "enuine1. Reasona&le mista*e will not #estroy the rivile"e'. E.".) you4re waitin" for your suit$ase in the airort for

hours an# you eventually see someone else wal*in"away with what you thin* is your suit$ase) so you runu an# "ra& it. (t4s not yours. The owner of thesuit$ase sues you for &attery. 2efense of 6roertyalies &e$ause it was a reasona&le mista*e.

iii. 8or$e must &e roortional1. (n a life threatenin" situation) you $an use #ea#ly

for$e

'. (n $ases that involve #efense of roerty) #ea#lyfor$e is always $onsi#ere# ex$essive.

a. lso) you $annot #o &y ma$hine what isfor&i##en to #o in erson. o shot"un tras.

3. e$essity 2efensesa. Only availa&le if one of the torts alle"e# is one of the three

roerty tortsi. Tresass to lan#ii. Tresass to $hattels

iii. $ant "rou of eole. re with heavy win#movin" towar#s a "asoline re>nery,. Onto the s$ene$omes the #efen#ant) 5savior of the $ity5) an altruisti$ manwith nothin" to "ain. To sto the >re) he "oes into a

fa$tory to ta*e the fa$tory4s Dame retar#ant $hemi$als. otresass or $onversion.

iii. %e #on4t want this erson to hesitate we want this ersonto have le"al immunity so he will save the $ity.

$. 6rivate e$essityi. 2efen#ant inva#es lainti!4s roerty to rote$t an interest

of his own. This #efen#ant is selfJintereste# an# a$tin" out

I


7/25

of ersonal motives. ot an a&solute #efense. Generatesthree inter$onne$te# le"al $onsequen$es.

1. 2efen#ant in a rivate ne$essity $ase remains lia&lefor $omensatory #ama"es

'. 2efen#ant in rivate ne$essity is not lia&le for

unitive or nominal #ama"es3. s lon" as the emer"en$y $ontinues) the lainti! +roerty owner, $annot throw the #efen#ant o! thelan#) in e!e$t for$in" him &a$* into the emer"en$y.

ii. 2efense is a&solute if the a$t is to &ene>t the owner of thelan#

2efamation1. 2efamatory statement a&out the lainti!

a. Heast teste# of the three elements&. 0omethin" is #efamatory if it ten#s to a#versely a!e$t the

lainti!4s reutation. (t &rin"s you #own in the estimation of other eole.

$. Mere nameJ$allin" is not #efamatory &e$ause it la$*s anyreutational $onsequen$e.

#. 2efamatory is an alle"ation of fa$t. (t soun#s fa$tual in naturean# reDe$ts ne"atively on the erson &ein" #is$usse#.

e. %hat a&out oinion statements;i. E.".) 5(n my oinionL5ii. (f it soun#s li*e the #efen#ant has fa$ts to &a$* it u) then

it $oul# &e #efamatory +e.".) 5(4# &e $areful a&out usin" 2r.0mith as my sur"eonL5,

iii. (f it4s merely a su&7e$tive oinion +e.".) 5that4s a really &a#ham&ur"er5,) then it4s ro&a&ly not #efamation

iv. Generally) the &roa#er the lan"ua"e use#) the less li*elythat it will &e reasona&ly interrete# as a statement of fa$tor an oinion &ase# on se$i>$ fa$ts

f. (n the 9nite# 0tates) you $an only #efame a livin" erson.". 2efamin" a "rou of eole

i. ll mem&ers of a small "rou – ea$h may esta&lish thestatement was 5a&out5 him &y alle"in" that he is amem&er of the "rou

ii. ll mem&ers of a lar"e "rou – o one mem&er may

esta&lish the 5a&out5 element of the $ause of a$tioniii. 0ome mem&ers of a small "rou – lainti! $an re$over if a

reasona&le erson woul# view the statement as referrin"to him

'. 56u&li$ation5 of the statementa. Must reveal the statement to at least one erson other than the

lainti!. 56u&li$ation5 of the statement to the erson it4s a&outwill not a!e$t his reutation.


8/25

i. 2ama"es in$rease as the num&er of eole who mayrea#/hear the statement in$reases.

&. 6u&li$ation #oes not have to &e #eli&erate.


9/25

. 6u&li$


10/25

3. Histenin" at the *eyholeC. 6eein" Tom

ii. Must &e in a la$e where the erson has a reasona&leexe$tation of riva$y

3. 8alse Hi"ht +8alse "ossi,

a. %i#esrea# 2issemination of a material falsehoo# a&out thelainti! that woul# &e hi"hly o!ensive to the avera"e erson.lso requires u&li$ity for lia&ility to atta$h

&. 8alse li"ht that is not #efamatory:i. Reli"ious &eliefsii. 6oliti$al &eliefs

C. 2is$losure +True "ossi,a. %i#esrea# #issemination of $on>#ential information a&out the

lainti! that woul# &e hi"hly o!ensive to the avera"e ersoni. Exam Caution: nother newsworthiness ex$etion.

2is$losure of resi#ential $an#i#ate4s me#i$al re$or#s is

newsworthy an# not a tort.&. Must &e $on>#ential.

i. E.".) 6ete is a "ay man who is out to his frien#s an# familyan# involve# in the oliti$al "ay $ommunity. But) 6ete isnot out at wor* yet.

. 2efenses to 6riva$y Tortsa. t of

5(oreseeable victims5ii. o #uty owe# to unforeseea&le vi$tims

1. 9nforeseea&le vi$tims always lose ne"li"en$e $ases'. 9nforeseea&le vi$tims are usually very far away

iii. Exception to unforeseea&le vi$tims rule1. ou owe a #uty to res$uers they4re "iven a free ass

with rese$t to the 6als"raf ro&lem.$. -ow mu$h $are; – Reasona&le 6ru#en$e

i. s mu$h $are as a reasona&ly ru#ent erson a$tin" un#ersimilar $ir$umstan$es

1


11/25

ii. %e ma*e no allowan$es for the #efen#ant4s ersonalshort$omin"s – this is an inDexi&le stan#ar#

iii. Everyone is 7u#"e# a"ainst the reasona&ly ru#ent ersoniv. Exceptions:

1. (f the #efen#ant has suerior s*ill or *nowle#"e in

the area) then the #efen#ant is $omare# to areasona&ly ru#ent erson with suerior s*ill or*nowle#"e.

'. %here relevant) we will in$ororate hysi$alattri&utes of #efen#ant into the reasona&ly ru#enterson stan#ar# of $are.

a. E.".) (f the #efen#ant is &lin#) the reasona&lyru#ent erson is &lin#.

#. 0e$ial 2uty 0tan#ar#s of rst time ever. -e ri#es to

the $orner) ma*es a loo) an# $omes &a$*) stayin"on the street. 0usie is sittin" on the avementlayin" 7a$*s. Billy runs over 0usie4s han#) &rea*in"all the &ones in her >n"ers. 0usie sues Billy) $laimin"he was ne"li"ent in oeratin" his tri$y$le.

a. Billy is hel# to the stan#ar# of a $hil# of similara"e – PJyear ol#

&. Billy is hel# to the stan#ar# of a $hil# withsimilar exerien$e – &e"inner/novi$e

$. Billy is hel# to the stan#ar# of a $hil# withsimilar intelli"en$e – Billy is stui#

*. Exception: %hen a $hil# is en"a"e# in an a#ulta$tivity) the stan#ar# $han"es an# we "o &a$* to thereasona&ly ru#ent erson un#er the $ir$umstan$es.

a. E.".) oeratin" any vehi$le with an en"ine is ana#ult a$tivity

ii. 6rofessionals1. This refers to:

a. -ealth $are rofessionals

11


12/25

&. $$ountants$. Hawyers#. r$hite$tse. ny "rou of eole who in the ra$ti$e of their

tra#e or o$$uation requires a se$ial s*ill or

li$ense) an# may &e selfJre"ulatin".'. Two ways of hrasin" stan#ar#s of $are:a. +1, Restatement – rofessional is o&li"ate# to

exer$ise the s*ill an# *nowle#"e normallyossesse# &y mem&ers of the same rofessionin "oo# stan#in".

&. +', 6rof4s – rofessional must &ehave with thesame $are as avera"e mem&ers of the samerofession. The $ustom of others is thestan#ar# of $are.

$. E.".) the #efen#ant #o$tor is $omare# to other

#o$tors in the real worl#. They have to #o it theway the other #o$tors #o it. The $ustom of thera$ti$e is #isositive.

#. ou may nee# an exert witness) sin$e a 7urywill not ne$essarily &e aware of how most#o$tors &ehave.

e. The stan#ar# of $are is not to &ehave as areasonable #o$tor.

i. This is in$orre$t &e$ause reasonablenessimli$ates a $ost/&ene>t analysis. %e#on4t #o that when we a#7u#i$ate

#o$tors we only $omare them to their$ollea"ues.

iii. 6remises Hia&ility1. 6lainti! enters real estate +rivate roertyKlan# or

&uil#in"s,. %hile on the roerty) the lainti! en$ounters a haar#ous $on#ition an# "ets hurt. Didthe person who possessed the property owe a prior duty to protect the entering plainti from thehazardous object?

'. The answer #een#s on the *in# of entrant:a. 9n*nown/9n#is$overe# Tresasser

i. +1, 6lainti! $omes on the lan# withoutermission an# +', #efen#ant has no i#eathe lainti! is there.

1. Sero #uty of $are. o #uty torote$t un*nown tresassers.

ii. E.".) &ur"lar $omes into your house whileyou4re away on va$ation an# the &ur"lar"ets in7ure# in the house.

1'


13/25

iii. 9n#is$overe# tresassers areunforeseea&le vi$tims

&. Fnown/nti$iate# Tresassersi. 6ossessor either +no!s or s,ould +no!

that they4re on the lan#.

ii. EM T(6: 6attern of tresassin" in theast tri""ers an anti$iate# tresasser.E.".) hi*ers frequently

iii. 0tan#ar# of $are: 6ossessor must rote$tthese eole only from that small su&setof haar#s that meet four $on#itions+must &e arti>$ial haar#ous $on#ition,:

1. o #uty to tresassers for naturallyo$$urrin" haar#s

'. The $on#ition must &e highly #an"erousKno #uty if mil#ly

#an"erous3. The $on#ition has to &e $on$eale#

+hi##en, from the entrant +no #utyif oen or o&vious, #'D

C. 2efen#ant/ossessor has to have*nowle#"e of the $on#ition ina#van$e

iv. The ossessor must only rote$t from*nown) hi##en) manma#e #eathJtras onthe lan#.

$. Hi$ensees

i. 6eole who enter roerty withermission) &ut who #o not $onfere$onomi$ &ene>t on the ossessor +e.".)so$ial "uest,

ii. 2uty with rese$t to natural/arti>$ial$on#itions only if:

1.


14/25

ii. 2uty stan#ar#:1. re>"hters

i. 6oli$e oA$ers an# >re>"hts neverre$over if the in7ury is an inherent ris* of

their 7o&ii. ssumtion of the ris*

&.


15/25

ru#en$e) su$h as removin" haar#ous$on#itions from aroun# the swin" set.

iv. E.".) inJ"roun# swimmin" ool.1. e#) &ut no statute,:a. 0tatutory $omlian$e is more #an"erous than

statutory violationi. E.".) #river swerves a$ross #ou&le yellow

line to avoi# a $hil#) $ausin" a #rivertravelin" the oosite #ire$tion to swerveo! the roa# an# hit a tree. -i"her #an"er

1


16/25

is to hit the $hil#. ly reasona&lyru#ent erson stan#ar#.

&. e#vi. e"li"ent (nDi$tion of Emotional 2istress

1. 6lainti! #i# not su!er any hysi$al harm onlyemotional harm.

a. (f hysi$al harm) then there4s an or#inaryne"li"en$e $ase.

&. (n hysi$al harm ne"li"en$e $ases) you $analso re$over for emotional #ama"es

1I


17/25

'. (n any true (E2 essay) you4re "oin" to nee# a twoJtiere# #is$ussion:

a. Tier 1: e"li"en$e of the #efen#ant +will &eun#er one of the rules we have alrea#y ta*enu: i.e.) not reasona&ly ru#ent) violate# a

statute) fell &elow in#ustry stan#ar# of $are)fell &elow $hil# stan#ar# of $are,&. Tier ': 6lainti!4s entitlement to re$over

i. ear miss $ases – #efen#ant &ehavin"ne"li"ently #oes not hysi$ally in7ure thelainti! &ut almost #i# an# left thelainti! a"itate#. 5One more ste an# (woul# have &een a #ea# man@5 Emotion:nxiety or fear. ou have to show:

1. 2efen#ant4s ne"li"en$e ut you ina one of hysi$al #an"er +have to

show that it was a near miss,.'. 0u&sequent hysi$al manifestation

of the #istress.a. E"#$ TI: Hoo* for $lear

hysi$al symtomsii. Bystan#er


18/25

a. The lainti! must i#entify se$i>$ $on#u$t that falls short of thestan#ar# of $are.

i. Either an aArmative a$t or a failure to #o somethin".ii. %rite this &y usin" the wor#s 5lainti! will alle"e that the

unreasona&le $on#u$t here was that #efen#ant . . . =insert

fa$t from the ro&lem?.5iii. (n a##ition to fa$t) you must "ive a reason. 56lainti! willar"ue this was unreasona&le &e$ause . . . =insert reason?.5

b. Res Ipsa o!uitor i. This $omes u when there is no fa$tual information

re"ar#in" what the #efen#ant #i# wron". This $omes u inan information va$uum.

ii. E.".) 6lainti! wal*s #own the street in En"lan#) assin" &y2efen#ant4s &a*ery. s he wal*s &y) a woo#en &arrel of Dour falls an# &os him in the hea#) lan#in" him in thehosital.

iii. Two elements:1. The a$$i#ent as of a tye normally asso$iate# with

ne"li"en$ea. This showin" is essentially an ar"ument &ase#

on ro&a&ilities. $onfession of i"noran$e an#an aeal to statisti$s.

&. Often times you nee# exert testimony to showthat the a$$i#ent is normally asso$iate# withne"li"en$e

'. The a$$i#ent that o$$urre# woul# normally have&een #ue to the ne"li"en$e of someone in this

#efen#ant4s ositiona. This means that the a$$i#ent was in the $ontrol

of the #efen#ant3.


19/25


20/25

ti"ht that &loo# $ir$ulation is $ut o! an# the le"is amutate#.

&. 2o$tors messin" u $an &e foreseea&le) so youhave to ay.

$. (n that $ase) the ne"li"ent #o$tor will also &e

lia&le for me#i$al malra$ti$e.'. (ntervenin" e"li"ent Res$uea. 2ave &rea*s 6ete4s le". 2ave leaves) an# oe

tries to res$ue 6ete from the mi##le of thestreet. %hile oe #ra"s 6ete to the si#e of theroa#) oe4s shoul#er #islo$ates. 2efen#ant islia&le for in7ury to the res$uer

3. (ntervenin" Rea$tion or 6rote$tion for$esa. 2ave runs a re# li"ht an# enters a $row#e#

interse$tion) $ausin" a stame#e in rea$tion tothe $ar. Tryin" to rote$t themselves) they

s$atter. One is hit &y another $ar an# stome#on &y another rea$tin" e#estrian. 2efen#antlia&le for &oth the $arJhit an# the stom in7ury.

C. 0u&sequent #isease or a$$i#ent.a. 2ave runs a re# li"ht &rea*in" 6ete4s le". 6ete

"ets $rut$hes. ot *nowin" how to use$rut$hes) 6ete falls an# &rea*s his arm. These$on# in7ury is on the 2efen#ant too.

C. 2ama"esa. E""shell lainti! – on$e #efen#ant has $ommitte# the other

elements of the $ause of a$tion) even if a mo#est an# minor

&rea$h lea#s to #evastatin" harm) that #efen#ant is lia&le for allharm su!ere# &y the lainti!.

. 2efenses to the Tort of e"li"en$e –


21/25

'. 6lainti! fault a&ove U is an a&solute &ar an# thelainti! "ets nothin"

3. E.".) U faulty lainti! "oes home with nothin".C. E.".) 3U faulty lainti! "oes home with U of

the #ama"es.

Strict Liability

nimals1. 2omesti$ate# nimals

a. 6ets an# "ri$ultural nimals&. There is "enerally no stri$t lia&ility$. ou must show that the #efen#ant was ne"li"ent.#. Exam Tip: (f you *ee a #omesti$ animal &ut have *nowle#"e of

its #an"erous roensities) then the law will hol# you stri$tlylia&le.

i. This means #an"er attri&ute# to the se$i>$ $reature) notan attri&ute "enerally attri&ute# to the $reatures.

ii. E.".) &ulls $an $har"e an# #on*eys $an *i$*. These aren4tiii. E.".) if your #o" has reviously &itten someone) you now

have *nowle#"e that your #o" is a #o" of #an"erousroensity.

e. Ex$etion to the Ex$etion:i. Even if you have *nowle#"e of #an"erous roensities) you

will never &e lia&le for someone tresassin" on your lan#.'. %il# nimals

a. 0tri$t lia&le always&. Exam tip: 0afety re$autions are irrelevant. Examiners will loa#

a question with safety re$autions to try to tri$* you.

&normally 2an"erous $tivities1. Two art test ulle# strai"ht from the Restatement

a. The a$tivity is one that $reates a foreseea&le ris* of serious harmeven when reasona&le $are is exer$ise#

i. 5%e la$* the te$hnolo"y to ma*e the a$tivity safe.5ii. %e $an4t "et the ris* level #own low enou"h.

&. The a$tivity $annot &e $ommon in the lo$ation where $on#u$te#.(t4s out of la$e an# out of $ontext.

'. -allmar* a&normally #an"erous a$tivity:a. Blastin" – any tye of exlosive

i. 2emolition of &uil#in"s) in $onne$tion with $oal minin") it$oul# &e farmers usin" #ynamite to &low u tree stums

&. -an#lin" an# transortin" hi"hly toxi$/#an"erous $hemi$al or&iolo"i$al materials

i. E.".) e&ola virus

'1


22/25

$. nythin" involvin" hi"h #ose ra#iation or nu$lear ener"yi. How #ose ra#iation +me#i$al uses, is not a&normally

#an"erous#. 0afety re$autions are irrelevant

Strict Liability (or De(ective roducts – Most heavily teste#1. 6lainti! must show that the #efen#ant is a mer$hanta. mer$hant is someone who routinely #eals in "oo#s of this tye.&. These thin"s are not mer$hants

i.


23/25

ii. Exam Tip: ll warnin"s are not $reate# equal. Eventhou"h there may &e some warnin" lan"ua"e) the questionmay arise whether it is a#equate or suA$ient. warnin"on a"e 1C of an instru$tion manual may not &e suA$ient.

3. 2efe$t existe# when the ro#u$t left the #efen#ant4s han#s – the

ro#u$t has not &een altere# in the $hain of $usto#ya. This element is resume# satis>e# if the ro#u$t move# inor#inary $hannels of #istri&ution

C. 6lainti! must &e ma*in" a foreseea&le use of the ro#u$t at the time of in7ury

a. foreseea&le use is not ne$essarily the inten#e# use. Manyinaroriate uses are nonetheless foreseea&le.

i. E.".) you stan# on a $hair to "et an item on a hi"h shelf an# the $hair $ollases. (s it foreseea&le that eole stan#on $hairs; es.

2efenses to 0tri$t Hia&ility1. 0ame as a&ove) in$lu#in" $omarative ne"li"en$e

'uisance

uisan$e – unli*ely to &e an essay toi$1. (nterferen$e with your a&ility to use an# en7oy your real estate to an

unreasona&le #e"ree.'. (n$onsistent lan# use – a#7a$ent lan#owner #oin" somethin" that ma*e

the other4s life misera&lea. E.".) smo*e &el$hin" fa$tory next to an asthma hosital

3. uisan$e $an &e #ue to site. Examles:a. Hou# musi$ all the time&. Runnin" a $ra$* house

C. Fey oint – no matter what le# to the ro&lems) it4s whether the #e"reeof interferen$e is too mu$h. %e live in a $row#e# worl#) an# we haveto tolerate a $ertain amount of annoyan$e from our nei"h&ors. (t4s "otto &e somethin" that4s a &i" #eal.

a. The nuisan$e must &e 5seriously annoyin".5&. 52e>nitely o!ensive5

. Multile


24/25

a. Emloyer/emloyee – Respondeat "uperior i. Emloyer is lia&le for torts of emloyees $ommitte# within

the s$oe of emloymentii. (ntentional torts are "enerally outsi#e the s$oe of

emloyment. But there are ex$etions

1. (f for$e is art of the 7o& assi"nment +e.".) se$urity"uar# or &oun$er,) then ex$essive for$e ma*es theemloyer lia&le throu"h vi$arious lia&ility

'. (f the 7o& involves fri$tion or animosity +e.".) #e&t$olle$tor or reo man, the emloyer may &evi$ariously lia&le

3. (f the emloyee is furtherin" the &usiness of theemloyer +e.".) store se$urity "uar# who stos an##etains every thir# $ustomer for 5sot $he$*s5,)&usiness $an &e vi$ariously lia&le

&. -irin" 6arty/(n#een#ent $ontra$tor

i. &usiness will not &e lia&le for the a$ts of its in#een#ent$ontra$tor

ii. Exception: &usiness is vi$ariously lia&le if anin#een#ent $ontra$tor hurts a $ustomer on the roerty.

$. utomo&ile Owner/utomo&ile 2riveri. Owner not vi$ariously lia&le for the torts of the #river.ii. Ex$etion: (f you #rive an owner4s $ar in or#er to #o an

erran# for the owner) then now the owner is lia&le for the#river4s a$ts.

#. 6arents/


25/25

a. Three #efen#ants) +Tom) 2i$*) an# -arry, all foun# lia&le. Tomays the full amount. Tom wants to $olle$t from 2i$* an# -arry.

i. $ationa. Ni$arious Hia&ility – (f you have &een hel#

vi$ariously lia&le an# the a$tive tortfeasor is inthe a$tion) the vi$ariously lia&le erson $anre$over from the a$tive tortfeasor viain#emni>$ation

&. 6ro#u$ts lia&ility – where the outJofJo$*etmoney #efen#ant is a retailer) the retailer $anre$over from the manufa$turer.

. Hoss of

Torts Lecture

Documents

Transcript of Torts Lecture