Chapter 1 – Commercial Liability – A Legal Perspective Flashcards
Criminal Wrong
one which is considered harmful to the state
Civil Law
concerned with civil or private rights and remedies (be civil to each other)
Define TORT and Tort Law
a private or civil wrong or injury, other than breach of
contract, for which the court will provide a remedy in the form of
an action for damages
TORT LAW enables victims to obtain compensation for their loss from those who caused it. Liability for accidents to members of the public comes within the law of tort.
Contract Law
failure, without legal excuse, to perform any
promise which forms the whole or part of a contract.
The above is BREACH of CONTRACT
Rule of Precedent
current court decisions must follow those
made in cases having similar circumstances
Statute Law
Statute law the WRITTEN LAW, created by
federal and provincial legislation and supersedes or amends common law
Compensatory Damages
compensate the insured party for the bodily
injury or property damage sustained
General Damages
damages, which cannot be exactly determined in monetary terms – rather they reflect the amount the court believes necessary to compensate the aggrieved party fairly eg. pain and suffering
Special Damages
out of pocket expenses. These CAN BE MEASURED
Examples:
Doctor/dentist and special charges
- Hospital clinic or nursing home charges
- Nursing fees
-Charges for ambulance, medication and prosthetics
- Travel expense to and from doctors and hospitals
Exemplary or Punitive Damages
awarded to the plaintiff over and above those provided
as compensatory damages, purpose is to punish defendants
Nominal Damages
establish validity of the plaintiffs claim when a question of principle is at stake
Remedies for Breach of Contract
provide payment for damages to the injured party, enforce specific performance of the terms of the contract
Doctrine of Negligence
duty on all persons to exercise due care in their conduct toward others from which injury
may result
Negligence must be proven, a plaintiff must show that the following three conditions existed
1) The defendant owed the plaintiff a legal duty of care
2) Duty was breached as a result of the defendant’s negligence
3) The plaintiff suffered damages as a proximate result of the defendant’s negligence
strictly liable
if the work is inherently dangerous, they are presumed to be liable for an offence with out the requirement on the plaintiff to prove negligence.
an Occupier
person who has immediate supervision and control of the premises and the power to admit and exclude the entry of others
Duty Owed to Those Who Come on the Premises
responsible for damages caused by the condition
of the premises and the operations conducted thereon
Premises Exposure
occupier is responsible for the condition of the premises
Operations Exposure
Operations conducted on or away from the premises also expose the
occupier to claims arising out of negligence
Liability in Common Law
degree of duty of care is determined by the reason for which the person to whom that duty is owed is on the premises
Common Duty Owed
Such care as in all the circumstances of the case is reasonable to see that the visitor will be reasonably safe in using the premises for the purposes for which he is invited or permitted by the occupier to be there or is permitted by law to be there.
Exceptions to Common Duty Owed
not owed to visitors in respect to risks
willingly accepted