Defenses to Intentional Torts Flashcards
What are the defensea to Intentional Torts?
- Consent
- Self Defense
- Self Defense of Others
- Defense of Property
- Recapture of Chattels
- Reentry onto Land
- Necessity
- Shopkeepers Privilege
- Privilege of Arrest
What is the impact of Consent on Intentional Torts ?
Defense to Every Intentional Tort
- Can be express or Implied
When does express consent Exist?
Clearly & unmistakably stated (spoken or written)
When is Consent Lost?
When conduct reasonably exceeds the scope of the consent
When is express consent invalid?
Exp. Consent invalid if:
- Fraud - fraud related to essential matters only ➞ Doesn’t apply to collateral matters
- Duress - unless only future threats or future econ. deprivation
- Mistake - Only if ▵ knew of ∏’s mistake and took advantage of the mistake
When does Implied Consent exist?
Plaintiff’s consent is implied when he is silent in a situation where a reasonable person would object to the Defendant’s actions
- Emergency Situations
- Athletic Evients
- Mutual Consent to Combat
What is the Legal Capacity Required for Valid Consent
Consent is not a defense if P is incapable of consenting
- Chiild
- Intoxication
- Unconscious
- Insane
What are the elements to the self-defense defense for intentional torts ?
- D subjectiely believes that she used reas. force to prevent P from engaging in an imminent & unpriv. attack
- D responds with proportional force during the threat (can’t be after threat is over)
Is there a duty to retreat b/f using self defense ?
Courts are split on whether & when ▵ has a duty to retreat b/f using force
- Restatement Views
- Non-Deadly Force - No Duty to Retreat
- Deadly Force - Duty to retreat unless the attack takes place inside the ▵s dwelling by a pers. who does not also live there
Self Defense - What degree of force may one use ?
▵ can only use amount of force req. to prevent the impending harm
- Using more then nec. will subj. ▵ to liab. for damages caused by the excessive force
- Non-Deadly Force - use anytime vic. reas. believes that force will be used against her
- Deadly Force - Vic. can use deadly force if she is not at fault, confronted w. unlawful force & reas. believes that she is facing imm. threat of death or serious bodily harm
Self Defense - Accidental Third Party Injuries
Defense extends to accidental third party injuries caused while the ▵ was defending herself
What is the defense of others defense?
Requires Reas. Belief
- Even if 3d P didn’t have legal right to use force in her own def.,
- ▵ who came to aid of that pers. may still assert self def. of others
- if ▵ honestly & reas. believed that the other pers. had the right to use force in her own defense
Reasonable Mistake OK - Reas. mistake as to the threat of force will not prevent use of the def.
What degree of force may be used for the defense of self defense of others?
Alter Ego Theory - ▵ can use same degree of force she would be permitted to use if the tort was directed at her (steps into the shoes of the 3d party)
What is the defense of property defense of intentional torts?
A pers. can use reas. force to defend her prop (land and chattels)
Warning Required - owner of prop. must make verbal demand to leave
- unless reas. appears the request will be futile or violence will occur immed.
When can deadly force be used to defend property?
Never - Deadly Force Prohibited
- Exception - Imm. Threat of Death or Serious Bodily Harm (Case of Self Def.)
- Deadly Mechanical Devices Prohibited - Owner can’t use deadly mech. device such as spring gun to protect her prop.