Tort Rules Flashcards
Intentional Torts
B A I F T T C
Require intent (knows with substantial certainty that a particular effect occurs) and causation (the effect legally caused by the defendant’s act or set in motion by the defendant.
Battery
Intentional infliction of a harmful or offensive bodily contact
Assault
intentional causing of the apprehension of an imminent harmful or offensive contact
IIED
the intentional or reckless infliction of severe emotional distress caused by def’s extreme or outrageous
conduct
req’s intent, severe emotional distress, extreme and outrageous conduct,
3rd party - P present and known to be present and close relative OR present and known ans physical harm
False Imprisonment
the def intentionally causes the P to be confined to a bounded area with no reasonable means of escape and the plaintiff is either aware or harmed
Trespass to land
intentional physical invasion of the land of another
mistake of ownership is no defense. damage not necessary, nominal damages.
Trespass to Chattels
an intentional interference with a person’s use or possession of a chattel. Damage is loss of value caused by the loss of use
Conversion
intentional interference with the plaintiff’s possession that is so substantial that it warrants requiring the def to pay full value
Defenses to Intentional Torts
C SD DO DP RC N
consent - within scope
self defense - reasonable to threat
defense of others - reasonable force to reas. belief
def of property - no deadly force
recapture of chattels - reas. force to regain possession
necessity - public/private to prevent a greater harm than the tort
Negligence
Negligence is a breach of the standard of care. Requires duty, breach, causation (actual and proximate) damages and no defenses
Duty
A person has a duty to act as a reasonable person
maj. Cardozo foreseeable plaintiff, min. Andrews everyone.
Special Duties
A P C B O V
affirmative duty professionals children bailment owner/occupiers of land violation of statute
Affirmative Duty
Generally no affirmative duty but special relation, causing the danger, volunteer assistance
Professionals
required to possess the knowledge and skill of a member of their profession in good standing
fireman’s rule - cant sue for negligence when injured by inherent risks
Children
Must conform to a child of like age, experience, and intelligence unless adult activity then adult standard
Bailment
Bailor- gratuitous - inform of known defects in chattel
hire- should be aware
Bailee - standard is who benefits - sole benefit to bailor, low, benefit to bailee then high standard of care
Owners of Land
O T Ex to T L I L’ee L’or V
outside of premises trespassers ex to trespasser duty licensee invitee lessee lessor violation of statute
outside of premises
nat conditions no duty, artificial conditions, duty to warn
trespassers
generally owes no duty to make the land safe or warn of dangerous conditions to undiscovered trespassers or invitees/licensees that go beyond scope of invitation
exceptions to trespasser rule (2)
known or frequent trespassers - duty to warn of known dangers and artificial conditions that pose a risk of death or serious bodily harm
attractive nuisance - a landowner must exercise ordinary care to avoid foreseeable injury to children if
1) the owner knew or should have known that the area is one where children trespass
2) condition poses an unreasonable risk of serious injury or death
3 ) children do not discover the risk or realize the danger due to youth
4) benefit to owner and expense to remedy the condition is slight compared to the risk
5) owner fails to use reas. care to eliminate danger
Licensee
one who enters the owners land with the owner’s consent for his own purpose.
Duty to warn of all known dangerous conditions that create an unreas. risk of harm that the licensee is unlikely to discover and to use reas. care in conducting operations on the property. No duty to repair or inspect
Invitee
one who enters the land in response to an invitation by the owner to do business with the owner or as a public invitee for land open to the public at large.
Duty to make a reas. inspection to find hidden dangers and take affirmative actions to remedy a dangerous condition
Lessee
General duty to maintain the premises same as landowners
Landlord
must
1) warn of existing dangers which he knows or should know that the lessee is unlikely to discover
2) non-negligent repair- if promise to repair, must do so non-negligently
3) maintain common areas
Violation of Statute -Negligence per se
is negligent per se if :
violates statute without excuse
P is within the class of persons the statute is designed to protect
the harm is the type that the statute was designed to protect against
negligence per se will establish the standard of care and breach
Breach
breach occurs when the defendant’s conduct fails to conform to the duty of care
res ipsa loquitor
can be used to establish breach of duty in situations where the event transpiring creates an inference that the defendant was probably negligent because the action is the type that does not happen absent negligence
Actual Cause
but/for the defendant’s actions, plaintiff would not have been harmed
joint tortfeasors
where two or more def are at fault and their conduct combines to cause the harm to the plaintiff, they will all be jointly and severally liable, as their actions are a substantial factor in causing the injury