Torts Flashcards
Consent only extends to:
Conduct that is the same as, or substantially similar to, the particular conduct agreed to by the plaintiff
*Thus consent is limited to the individual whose conduct was agreed to by the plaintiff
A product is defective by design if:
(1) the product’s design is unreasonably dangerous, and
(2) danger could have been mitigated by a feasible alternative design
Consent is not valid and will not serve as a defense if (mistake):
(1) Consent was due to substantial mistake, and
(2) D knew about the mistake or caused it by affirmative misrepresentation or fraud
Public disclosure of private facts:
The defendant publicized a matter about the plaintiff’s private life that is not of legitimate public interest
*Disclosure of matters concerning public figures and their families is generally not actionable
A seller remains liable for negligence to persons for physical harm caused by an artificial condition on the land that:
(1) existed at the time of the sale, and
(2) the seller knew, or should have known, existed and posed an unreasonable risk of harm to such persons
*Liability exists until buyer has had a reasonable opportunity to discover and remedy the condition
Libel
(1) D knowingly made a false statement about P OR negligently failed to determine its falsity,
(2) that type of statement would tend to harm the P’s reputation, and
(3) D intentionally or negligently communicated that statement to a third party
Intrusion upon seclusion occurs when:
D intentionally intrudes on P’s private affairs in a manner that would be highly offensive to a reasonable person
Trespass to chattels requires:
(1) Intentional interference,
(2) with the P’s right to possession by either dispossession or intermeddling, and
(3) P can show actual harm to, or deprivation of the use of, the chattel for substantial time
Superseding cause
Unforeseeable intervening cause that breaks the chain of proximate cause
*Negligent intervening acts are FORESEEABLE
Joint and Several Liability
Two or more defendants are a factual cause of an indivisible injury or Ds acted with common plan or design
P can recover from any of the Ds individually or all of them jointly
Individual Ds can seek contribution from joint tortfeasors
Res ipsa loquitur
(1) Harm would not have occurred if D had used ordinary care,
(2) P is not responsible for the injury, and
(3) Cause of harm was under D’s exclusive control
*Trier of fact may infer the existence of D’s negligent conduct in the absence of direct evidence of such negligence
Negligence Per Se
(i) Statute imposes a specific duty for protection of others,
(ii) D neglects to perform the duty,
(iii) D liable to anyone in the CLASS OF PEOPLE intended to be protected by statute for HARMS OF THE TYPE the statute intended to protect against
*Violation excused if reasonable in light of physical disability or incapacity or because D is a child
What is assumption of the risk?
Does assumption of the risk preclude recovery in a negligence action?
Unreasonably proceeding in the face of known, specific risk
NO (unless contributory neg), it just reduces recovery
Assault
act or threat by D intended to cause apprehension of imminent harm or offensive contact
Assault is an ATTEMPT to commit a battery –> ATTEMPT requires a substantial step toward the commission of a crime, such as solicitation of an innocent agent to engage in criminal conduct, coupled with intent to commit that crime
IIED
Intent to cause severe emotional distress OR act with recklessness as to the risk of causing such distress
*Transferred intent does not apply when D intended to commit a different intentional tort
Defamation
Slander or Libel
- If the statement is of a public concern or public figure, P must prove falsity
- Private P suing on matter that does not involve public concern not required to prove falsity
False Light
Publication of facts about P or attributing views/actions to P that place P in a false light objectionable to a reasonable person under the circumstances
- Truth not always a defense
- In matters of public interest, P must show malice
Misappropriation
Unauthorized use of P’s picture or name for D’s advantage with a lack of consent that cause injury
*some states allow to survive death
Strict Liability - Wild Animals
Owner/Possessor liable as long as harm arises from dangerous propensity characteristic of animal or about which owner has reason to know AND for injuries caused by P’s fearful reaction to unrestrained wild animal
Strict Liability - Abnormally Dangerous Animals
Owner/Possessor liable if it has reason to know of dangerous propensities abnormal for the animal’s category or species and harm results
Owner/Possessor liable for trespassing pets if owner has knowledge or reason to know of intrusion
Negligence standard applies if pet strays onto public road and contributes to accident there