11) Neg - Duty Flashcards
duty: rule
when D is engaged in affirmative, risk creating conduct causing PI or property damage, a duty is owed to any foreseeable P
duty: times there might not be one
1) unforeseeable P
2) nonfeasance (failure to act)
3) harm other than PI or property damage
4) D is a land possessor/LL, utility, or gvt agency
unforeseeable Ps: rule
D owes duty only to foreseeable Ps
unforeseeable Ps: exception
rescuers
rescuers are always treated as foreseeable Ps – there IS a duty to a rescuer
nonfeasance: rule
no obligation to intervene to confer a benefit on another
nonfeasance: things you generally have no duty to do
1) rescue
2) control or warn others
3) protect against 3rd party crim conduct
nonfeasance: exception
misfeasance
misfeasance: kinds
1) affirmative risk-creating conduct
2) negligent omission
negligent omission: def
failure to do something a RP would do, that creates affirmative risk of harm (ex. failure to stop at stop sign)
no duty to rescue: exceptions
1) D’s tortious conduct creates the need to rescue
2) undertaking to act
3) special relationship of dependence or mutual dependence
no duty to rescue: exceptions: result
IF an exception applies, must take reasonable steps to rescue
undertaking to act: rule
(generally no obligation to rescue) but once D undertakes to rescue, must either:
1) not leave P in worse position or
2) must act reasonably
(depends on j)
good samaritan statutes: rule
if you rescue others, but do something negligent during the rescue, you are not liable (would need gross negligence, recklessness, willfulness)
no duty to rescue: special relationship: examples
parent/child common carrier/passenger inkeeper/guest captain/ppl on boat store owner/patron drinking buddies (stretch)
duty to control or warn: rule
there is no duty to control or warn about the conduct of a 3rd person to prevent him from causing physical harm to another
duty to control or warn: exceptions
1) special relationships
2) providers of alcohol (kinda)
duty to control or warn: exceptions: spl rships: kinds
1) spl rship exists between harm-causer and third person that imposes a duty upon the actor to CONTROL the 3rd person’s conduct (D takes charge or control over the person w knowledge of their dangerousness)
OR
2) spl rship btwn actor and other person gives the other person RIGHT OF PROTECTION
duty to control or warn: exceptions: spl rships: control: examples
prisons
parents
psychotherapists
duty to control or warn: exceptions: providers of alcohol: traditional rule
social host or commercial establishment that provided alcohol to someone who then drove and injured a third party had NO DUTY to the 3rd party
duty to control or warn: exceptions: providers of alcohol: dram shop acts
(can be from courts)
impose LIABILITY on commercial establishments and/or social hosts who provide alcohol to someone they (should) know to be intoxicated, when that person drives and harms a 3rd party
negligent entrustment: rule
if D gives a dangerous instrumentality to someone he (should know is) not competent to handle it, then duty is owed any foreseeable P
negligent entrustment: conceptual fit
form of misfeasance – not an exception bc not really nonfeasance at all
duty to protect against 3rd party crim conduct: rule
generally no duty!
duty to protect against 3rd party crim conduct: exceptions
spl rship will trigger a duty
SOME Js: also need high level of foreseeability of 3rd party crim conduct, established by prior similar incidents of that crim conduct
duty to protect against 3rd party crim conduct: spl rship: exs
LL/T
business/invitee
common carrier
D is gvt agency: duty rule
whether D owes duty to P depends on function gvt is fulfilling that gives rise to the COA
D is gvt agency: functions: kinds
1) proprietarty
2) discretionary
3) ministerial
D is gvt: proprietary function: def
gvt is acting in an area traditionally occupied by private enterprise (hospitals, LL)
D is gvt: proprietary function: rule
gvt owes a duty the same way any private actor would