L Chapter 4 Torts Flashcards
Tort
A civil wrong, not arising from a breach of contract or other agreement. A breach of legal duty that proximately causes another person harm or injury
Civil vs Criminal wrong
A tort is a civil wrong, punishable by compensating or paying damages to, the injured party, rather than a criminal wrong, which is punishable by paying a fine to the government or being imprisoned.
Basically, civil is for rich ppl, criminal is for poor ppl.
Types of Tort Damages
- Compensatory: Reimburse or return actual value of plaintiff injury or loss
- Punitive: Punish tortfeasor to deter similar future conduct
Types of Torts
- Intentional Tort
- Unintentional Tort
- Business Tort
- Cyber Tort
Intentional Tort
A wrongful act the tortfeasor committed knowingly and with the intent to commit the act (not necessarily with the intent to do harm)
Unintentional Tort
A wrongful act the tortfeasor committed without knowing its wrongfulness or without intending to commit the act. AKA Negligence
Business Tort
Wrongful interference with another’s business rights
Cyber Tort
A tort committed in cyberspace.
How u open Enterneat Expoler? I need 2 find gud thanksgivng recipe 4 family
Intentional Tort: Physical Acts
- Assault
- Battery
- False Imprisonment
- Infliction of Emotional Distress
Assault
An intentional, unexcused act creating in another person reasonable apprehension or fear of immediate harmful or offensive contact (pointing a gun at someone cuz they said ur pillow ugly) Apprehension is “awareness”
Battery
Intentional, unexcused and harmful or offensive contact (Firing a gun becuz person said u have an android not an iphone)
False Imprisonment
The intentional confinement of another person or restraint of another person activity without justification (Someone doesnt flush toilet at taco bell so staff lock him in the bathroom to clean it up)
Infliction of Emotional Distress
An intentional act that amounts to extreme and outrageous conduct resulting in severe emotional distress to another. (someone said “yo mama so fat, when she goes camping the bears have to hide THEIR food”, so you get depressed because it’s so sad)
Intentional Torts Defenses
Consent Self-Defense Defense or Assistance of Others Defense of Property Necessity
Consent
When a plaintiff consents to the act that damages him or her, the alleged tortfeasor generally is not liable for any damage done
Self-Defense
An individual defending his or her life or physical well-being, either from real or apparent danger, may use reasonably necessary force or resort to reasonably necessary action, to prevent harmful contact.
Defense or Assistance of Others
An individual can act in a reasonable manner to protect or assist others who are in real or apparent danger
Defense of Property
An individual may use reasonable force to remove an intruder from the individual’s home or to restrain the intruder for a reasonable time. Force that is likely to cause death or serious bodily injury (i.e., deadly force) normally may not be used solely to protect property
Necessity
An otherwise tortious act may be excused if the tortfeasor acted in accordance with law or the public good.
DEFAMATION TYPES
Defamation Slander Libel Publication Defamation Per Se
Defamation
Anything published or publicly spoken that injures another’s character, reputation, or good name with respected part of society.
Slander
Defamation in oral form.
Libel
Defamation in written form.
Publication
The speaker must have communicated the statement to persons other than the defamed party.
Defamation Per Se
1) that another has a loathsome communicable disease (e.g., a sexually-transmitted disease)
(2) that another has committed improprieties while engaging in a profession or trade;
(3) that another has committed or has been imprisoned for a serious crime;
(4) that an unmarried woman is unchaste
DEFAMATION DEFENSES TYPES
Truth Privilege Absolute Privilege Qualified Privilege Absence of Malice
Truth
Truth is normally an absolute defense. In other words, if the allegedly defamatory words were objectively true, the defendant cannot be held liable for publishing them.
Privilege
The ability to act contrary to another person’s right without giving legal redress for such acts.