REASONABLE PERSON STANDARD

Question 1

VAUGHAN V. MENLOVE (HAYSTACK CASE)

Answer 1

Defendant built haystack that caught on fire and fire damaged plaintiff’s property – defendant did not act as a reasonable person under like circumstances would when building the haystack if he did not know how to properly build one, so defendant liable for damages

Question 2

PARROT V. WELLS, FARGO, & CO. (EXPLODING PACKAGE CASE)

Answer 2

Defendant’s shipped package of explosive material through mail, employees opened package and died, and property was damaged in explosion – Defendant was acting as a reasonable person under like circumstances would when mailing the package under shipping laws and customs, and accident was unavoidable