Chapter 6: Tort Law Flashcards

1
Q

Torts

A

Two types:

  • Intentional
  • Unintentional (negligence)
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2
Q

Elements of Negligence

A
  • The defendant owed a legal duty of care to the plaintiff
  • The defendant breached the duty of care to the plaintiff
  • The defendant’s negligent act was the proximate cause of the plaintiff’s injury or damage
  • The plaintiff suffered actual injury or damage
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3
Q

Proximate Cause

A

Rules to determine proximate cause:

  • “But for” rule
  • Substantial factor rule
  • Proof of defendant’s responsibility
  • Forseeability rule
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4
Q

Defenses Against Negligence

A
  • Comparative negligence
  • Releases and exculpatory clauses
  • Immunity
  • Statues of limitations and repose
  • Tortfeasor’s capacity
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5
Q

Comparative Negligence

A

Four variations of the application of comparative negligence:

  • The pure comparative negligence rule
  • The 50% rule
  • The 49% rule
  • The slight versus gross rule
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6
Q

Immunity

A

Four major classes of immunities:

  • Sovereign, or governmental, immunity
  • Public official immunity
  • Charitable immunity
  • Intrafamilial immunity
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7
Q

Intrafamilial Immunity

A

Two principal categories;

  • Interspousal immunity
    • has been abolished, in whole or part, by all jurisdictions
  • Other family relationship immunities
    • Some jurisdictions still recognize parent-child immunity
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8
Q

Intentional Torts

Part 1

A

Common types of intentional torts:

  • Battery
  • Assault
  • False imprisonment or false arrest
  • Intentional infliction of emotional distress
  • Defamation (libel and slander)
  • Invasion of the right of privacy
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9
Q

Battery

A

Defenses to Battery:

  • The plaintiff consented to the act
  • The act was in self-defense or defense of others
  • The act was one of physical discipline
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10
Q

Slander & Libel

A

Defenses:

  • The statement was true
  • The defendant made or printed a retraction
  • The statement had absolute privilege
  • The statement had conditional or qualified privilege
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11
Q

Torts Involving Use or Disclosure of Information

A
  • Public disclosure of private facts
  • Publicity placing plaintiff in a false light
  • Unauthorized release of confidential information
  • Appropriation of plaintiff’s name or likeness
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12
Q

Defenses to Invasion of Privacy

A
  • The plaintiff previously published the information
  • The plaintiff consented to publication
  • The plaintiff is a public figure, or the information is public knowledge
  • The Information was part of a news event
  • The publication would not offend an individual of ordinary sensibility
  • Matters are disclosed in judicial proceedings
  • The Information is of public interest, such as the public’a right to know
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13
Q

Intentional Torts

Part 2

A
  • Fraud
  • Bad faith, or outrage
  • Interference with relationships between others
  • Misuse of legal process
  • Trespass
  • Nuisance
  • Conversion
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14
Q

Defenses to Fraud

A
  • The statement was not false
  • The statement did not relate to a material fact
  • The defendant did not know clothe statement was false
  • The defendant did not indent to deceive
  • The plaintiff did not rely on the statement
  • The plaintiff suffered no harm or loss because of relying on the statement
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15
Q

Defenses to Bad Faith

A
  • No intent or recklessness was involved
  • No outrageous or extreme conduct occurred
  • The defendant did not reach any implied duty of good faith and fair dealings
  • If contract damages are involved, the defendant owned no contractual duty to the plaintiff
  • In an insurance case, no valid insurance contract existed
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16
Q

Interference with Relationships Between Others

A
  • Injurious falsehood
  • Malicious interference with prospective economic advantage
  • Unfair competition
  • Interference with employment
  • Interference with copyright, patent, or trademark
  • Interference with right to use one’s own name in business
  • Interference with family relationships
17
Q

Misuse of Legal Process

A
  • Malicious prosecution

- Malicious abuse of process

18
Q

Malicious Prosecution

A

These acts bar a lawsuit for malicious prosecution:

  • Defendant’s action on advice of counsel
  • Plaintiff’s guilt of the crime
  • Probable cause
19
Q

Trespass

A

Defenses:

  • The plaintiff did not own or possess the property
  • The plaintiff consented to the defendant’s entry
  • The defendant did not enter onto or take control of the property
20
Q

Conversion

A

Defenses:

  • A plaintiff’s failure to establish the right to possession of the property
  • A plaintiff’s refusal to demand return, followed by the defendant’s consequent refusal to deliver
21
Q

Ultrahazardous Activities

A
  • It has a high degree of risk or serious harm
  • It cannot be performed without the high degree of risk
  • It does not normally occur in the area in which it is conducted
22
Q

Products Liability

A

Based on one or more of these legal principles:

  • Misrepresentation
  • Breach of warranty
  • Strict liability and negligence
23
Q

Types of Product Defects

A
  • Defect in manufacture or assembly
  • Defect in design
  • Failure to warn
24
Q

Product Liability Defenses

A
  • State-of-the-art defense
  • Compliance with statues and regulations defense
  • Compliance with product specifications defense
  • Open and obvious danger defense
  • Plaintiff’s knowledge defense
  • Comparative negligence versus the assumption-of-risk defense
  • Misuse of product defense
  • Alteration of product defense
25
Damages in Tort Suits
Two broad categories of damage: - Compensatory damages - Punitive damages (exemplary damages) by
26
Punitive Damages
Can be awarded only in certain situations for ordinary negligence: - The defendant actually intended to cause harm - The defendant acted oppressively, maliciously, or fraudulently
27
Punitive Damages
To assess punitive damages, courts usually consider three factors: - Nature of the defendant's actions - Size of the defendant's assets - Purpose of punitive damages
28
Misuse of Legal Process
- Malicious prosecution | - Malicious abuse of process
29
Malicious Prosecution
These acts bar a lawsuit for malicious prosecution: - Defendant's action on advice of counsel - Plaintiff's guilt of the crime - Probable cause
30
Trespass
Defenses: - The plaintiff did not own or possess the property - The plaintiff consented to the defendant's entry - The defendant did not enter onto or take control of the property
31
Conversion
Defenses: - A plaintiff's failure to establish the right to possession of the property - A plaintiff's refusal to demand return, followed by the defendant's consequent refusal to deliver
32
Ultrahazardous Activities
- It has a high degree of risk or serious harm - It cannot be performed without the high degree of risk - It does not normally occur in the area in which it is conducted
33
Products Liability
Based on one or more of these legal principles: - Misrepresentation - Breach of warranty - Strict liability and negligence
34
Liability Concepts Affecting Tort Claims
- Joint tortfeasors - Expanded liability concepts - Vicarious liability - Good Samaritan issues - Class actions and mass tort litigation
35
Expanded Liability Concepts
- Enterprise liability (industry-wide liability) - Alternative liability - Market share liability - Convert of action - Conspiracy - Joint venture
36
Vicarious Liability
- Principle and agent - Employer and employee - Parent and child
37
Class Actions and Mass Tort Litigation
A trial court considers four features to certify a suit as a class action: - Numerosity - Commonality - Typicality - Adequacy of representation