Chapter 5 - Torts - Terminology Flashcards
the attempt or threat to inflict bodily injury upon another person
assault
a person’s voluntary exposure to known or obvious risks
assumption of risk
a condition or machine on premises that poses a danger or special peril to children because of its attractiveness to them
attractive nuisance
force of law backed by the coercive power of the state
authority of law
the unlawful use of force against another person that entails some injury or offensive touching
battery
failure to act or refrain from acting as required by law
breach of duty
a test to determine causation in negligence actions. Asks, “Would an injury have occurred if not for the defendant’s actions?”
“but for” test
“Let the buyer beware.” Common law maxim requiring the consumer to judge the quality of a product before making a purchase
caveat emptor
doctrine of law that relieves a charitable organization from liability for its acts. (declining importance in the US)
charitable immunity
a rule that allows a jury, when considering an award of damages to an injured plaintiff, to consider the sums the plaintiff will receive from sources other than the defendant. (workers comp, other insurance)
collateral source rule
doctrine of tort law that allows a plaintiff to recover damages from a defendant in a negligence action even though the plaintiff is negligent to some degree but that reduces the plaintiff’s award based on the amount of the plaintiff’s negligence
comparative negligence
amount awarded a plaintiff to compensate for injury or losses suffered
compensatory damages
voluntary yielding to the will or desire of another person
consent
the right of companionship and services that each spouse has in relation to the other spouse
consortium
knowledge of facts imputed to someone who by proper diligence should have become aware of the facts
constructive notice
a fee to be paid to an atty only in the even the atty prevails in court on behalf of the client
contingent fee
a common law rule that provides that where a plaintiff’s own negligence contributed to an injury, the plaintiff is barred from recovering damages against a defendant
contributory negligence
the unlawful assumption of the rights of ownership to someone else’s property
conversion
an instrument that has inherently dangerous characteristics
dangerous instrumentality
the degree of force that may result in the death of the person against whom the force is applied
deadly force
a tort involving the injury to one’s reputation by the malicious or reckless dissemination of a falsehood
defamation
aiding or assisting a person being attacked
defense of a third person
actions taken that are not prescribed by law
discretionary activities
statutes prohibiting sales of alcoholic beverages to minors or intoxicated persons
dram shop acts
an obligation that a person has by law or contract
duty
the crime of holding someone against their will without legal justification
false imprisonment
English common law doctrine applied in many states. Treats a police officer or firefighter as a licensee, thereby limiting a landowner’s liability to such persons who enter premises as part of their duties
firefighter’s rule
an event that a reasonable person would ordinarily anticipate from one’s act or failure to act
foreseeable
intentional deception or distortion in order to gain something of value
fraud
carelessness of an outrageous character
gross negligence
an agreement or acquiescence manifested by a person’s actions or inaction
implied consent
a party to a contract who agrees to perform specified work under his or her own methods and supervision
independent contractor