Tort Flashcards
What is trespass to land?
direct interference with the claimant’s exclusive possession of the land
Is indirect interference considered tresspass?
No
What are the basis for a nuisance action?
Smells, noises, vibrations and the like
Does trespass require intent?
No, the intent should be intent to enter the land.
If the trespasser was not aware that the land belongs to someone else, it still qualifies for trespass because of the intention to enter the land.
What is Battery?
Intentional direct application of force to the claimant’s person
What is negligence
When a person owes a duty of care to another and breaches that duty and the duty causes damage
What are the type of duties?
Established duty
Novel duty
What is established duty
duty of care owed by certain classes of people according to case law and statute
What is novel duty?
not established - only if:
- Claimant is a foreseeable claimant
- relationship of sufficient proximity
- fair, just, and reasonable to impose the duty on the defendant
When is a person liable for omission?
special relationship between the parties
defendant has control over the victim
harm caused by a third party under the defendant’s control
person attempting a rescue - duty not to make the situation worse
The test to act with reasonable care under the duty is…
an objective standard
What is the Res Ipsa Loquitur
doctrine used to imply that the duty owed was breached in situations in which there is no evidence of how a person’s harm came to be
What are the elements of Res Ipsa Loquitur
Incident would not normally happen without negligence
No explanation for how the accident occurred
The thing causing the accident is under the control of the defendant.
What are the components of causation
claimant shows on the balance of probabilities (but for)
no intervening act
claimant’s harm was reasonably forseeable
When does an intervening act break the chain of causation
When it was forseeable
What is the egg shell skull doctrine?
You take your victim as you find them
What is a partial defence to negligence?
contributory negligence
What is a full defence to negligence?
Volenti non fit injuria (voluntary assumption of risk)
Illegality of an action of the claimant (contributed to the circumstances of their injury)
Is pure economic loss recoverable in an action in negligence?
No
What is pure economic loss
damage to property not belonging to the claimant
cost of damage suffered by a defective product
financial loss not flowing from the damage to the claimant or their property
Can consequential economic loss be recovered in an action in negligence?
Yes
In what case can pure economic loss be recovered?
If they arise from negligence misstatements by the defendant
what is pure psychiatric harm
psychiatric harm that isnt accompanied by an physical impact
What is consequential psychiatric harm?
when it is accompanied by a physical injury
Special rules for pure psychiatric harm as a primary victim?
claimant in the danger zone - ‘near miss’ situation
Special rules for pure psychiatric harm as a secondary victim?
being present at the scene or immediate aftermath
sudden shock
close ties with endangered person
psychiatric harm is foreseeable
Can the employer be liable for a latent defect attributable to a third party?
Yes, under the Employer’s liability (Defective Equipment Act) 1969
What is a complete defence for the employer’s liability?
The employee’s voluntary assumption of risk
what is vicarious liability?
liability of one person for a tort committed by another
Is an employer vicariously liable?
yes, for torts committed by an employee in the scope of their employment
Is vicarious liability attached to a criminal act?
The vicarious liability can attach for an employee’s tort that was also a criminal act if the act was closely connected to the employment
What is the effect of disobedience of an employee on the vicarious liability?
if the instructions are meant to limit the SCOPE of employment - the disobedience will take the act outside the scope of employment
If it limits the MANNER, then it is still within the scope of employment