Torts

Question 1

Will abnormal sensitivity rise to a nuisance violation if it cause him to find the interference offensive, annoying, or intolerable when a normal person in the community would not?

Answer 1

No, an interference with a plaintiffs use, and enjoyment of his or her property is not substantial and will not support a nuisance claim if it’s based off of a plaintiff’s , abnormal sensitivity, causing him to find that the interference was offensive, annoying, or intolerable, a normal person in the community would not

Question 2

What duty of care does an actor have if they know a reasonably should know that their conduct has exposed others to an unreasonable risk of harm from a third-party

Answer 2

Have a duty to use reasonable care to protect others

Question 3

What is the emergency doctrine

Answer 3

A Plaintiffs consent is presumed

1 - the purpose is to prevent or reduce risk
2 - the defendant reasonably believes that his/her conduct is necessary to prevent or reduce risk that substantially out weighs the plaintiffs interest in avoiding the conduct
3 - the defendant reasonably believes that immediate action is needed
AND
4 - he/she has reason to believe that the plaintiff would have actually consented

Question 4

Is there a duty under the foreseeably harmed defendant theory to unborn viable children?

Answer 4

Yes, a pregnant women can have a claim for the child too

Question 5

A defendant who has permission to use the plaintiff’s chattel commits conversion when he/she

Answer 5

(1) intentionally uses the chattel in a way that exceeds the scope of permission and (2) seriously violates the plaintiff’s right to control the chattel

Question 6

When a defendant has committed conversion what damages can be recovered?

Answer 6

the defendant is liable for the fair market value of the chattel at the time and place of conversion

Question 7

Can the duty to keep premises safe for business visitors be delegated?

Answer 7

No, it cannot. Even for an independent contractor? - correct, the store will still be on the hook as keeping the premises safe for business visitors is a nondelegable duty

Question 8

What is a wrongful birth claim

Answer 8

allows parents to recover for the birth of an unhealthy child if they can prove that (1) the doctor negligently failed to inform them of the substantial risk that their future child may have a birth defect and (2) had the parents known about that risk, the child would not have been conceived or born

Question 9

Define

Libel

Answer 9

Libel is a defamatory statement that appears in written or other physical form.

Question 10

What must a Plaintiff prove for Libel?

Answer 10

1) the defendant knowingly made a false statement about the plaintiff or negligently failed to determine its falsity
2) That the type of statement would** tend to harm t**he plaintiff’s reputation
3) that the defendant intentionally or negligenly communicated that statement to a third party (Key to a defamation claim)

Question 11

Is Consent a defense to Libel/Defamation?

Answer 11

Yes, it can be apparent, actual or implied

Question 12

Is pecuniary loss an element of libel?

Answer 12

NO - it is however an element of slander (spoken defamation)

Question 13

If damage occurs during trespass to chattel even through it was justified by private necessity - can the property owner recover for damages?

Answer 13

Yes, because the damage is trespass to chattel and a person who enters anothers property and because damage even for private necessity must pay for the actual damages cause

Question 14

What duty is owed to anticipated trespassers?

Answer 14

to protect them from concealed, dangerous, artificial conditions.

Need to warn them

Question 15

Generally, a plaintiff can recover for negligent infliction of emotional distress only if the defendant’s action causes a threat of physical impact that results in some kind of bodily harm (e.g. heart attack). What is the exception to this rule?

Answer 15

there is an exception to the physical-injury requirement in cases of misinforming someone that a family member has died.

Question 16

What is pure comparative negligence

Answer 16

the plaintiff’s fault reduces the award by the percent of the plaintiffs fault.

Example: Plaintiff is 30% at fault, Defendant 1 is 30% at fault, and Defendant 2 is 40% at fault.

Plaintiff can recover 70%

Question 17

Under a strict products liability theory, can a plaintiff recover for solely economic loss?

Answer 17

NO.

Question 18

Publication of defamatory matter is

Answer 18

intentional or negligent communication to the third party (other than the person being defamed) who understands its defamatory nature.

Question 19

A commericla supplier of a component that is integrated into a defective prodict is subject to strict liability when

Answer 19

1) the component is defective or
2) the supplier substantially participated in integrating the component into the product’s design and that integration caused the product to be defective

if a supplier gave specific instructions and then the manufacture does something else - the supplier is not strictly liable

Question 20

Which of the following are assault?
1) Words only
2) words and act
3) act only

Answer 20

1) no assault
2) Assault
3) Assault

Question 21

Define

Fraud

Answer 21

intentional misrepresentation or deceit
1) the defendant knowingly or recklessly misrepresents a material fact with the intent to induce the plaintiff’s reliance, and
2) the plainiff reasonably relies on that misrepresentation and suffer pecuniary loss

Question 22

What are nondelegable duties?

Answer 22

1) maintain safe conditions on premises open to public
2) safely perform activites that are
- abnormally or highly dangerous
- infringe on private property (nuisance, trespass)
- are regulated by law
- are conducted in public place

Question 23

If the defamation claim is in regards to a politician - what is the extra element that must be proven?

Answer 23

Actual malice

Question 24

Under a defective product (strict liability) when must the product be defective and who can be held liable?

Answer 24

The product must have been defective at the time of sale or distribution.

A retailer and a manufacture can be liable even when a retailer is not responsible for the defect or negligent in any way

Question 25

To recover under a theory of public disclosure of private facts, the plaintiff must show:

Answer 25

1) the defendant gave publicity to a matter concerning the private life of another
2) the matter publicized is of a kind that would be highly offensive to a reasonable person and
3) is not of legitimate concern to the public

Question 26

Does an IIED claim require phsysical injury?

Answer 26

No, it only requires that the defendant was a least reckless as to the risk that their extreme or outrageous conduct would cause the plaintiff severe emotional distress

Question 27

For defamation or libel brought by a public official or figure what elements must be proven?

Answer 27

1) false statement was made with actual malice (knwing or reckless disregard of the statement’s falsity)
2) statement was the type that would tend to harm Plaintiff’s reputation
3) the defendant intentionally or negligently commincated that statement to a third party

Question 28

Under the majority approach, who can have standing to sue for a product warranty?

Answer 28

Those in privity. A purchaser or members of a purchaser’s family or household

Minority view extends thise to anyone reasonably expected to be affected

Question 29

Can punitive damages be awarded for negligence?

Answer 29

No, Punitive damages are awarded to deter outrageous, malicious, or evil conduct which includes intentional or reckless conduct

negligence involves mere unreasonable conduct

Question 30

To establishe a prima facie case of intentional misrepresentation (fraud or deceit) the plaintiff must show:

Answer 30

1) the defendant knowingly or recklessly misrepresented a material fact with the intent to induce the plaintiff’s reliance AND
2) the plaintiff reasonably relied on the misrepresentation and suffered pecuniar loss (monetary) as a result

Question 31

Does assumption of the risk apply to strict liability?

Answer 31

YES, including stict products liability

Question 32

What is the modern approach to land entrants? (as opposed to the traditional approach)

Answer 32

land possessors owe all land entrants (except flagrant trespassers) a duty of reasonable care

Question 33

When acting in self-defense, when would a defendant be liable to a bystander for an intentional tort?

Answer 33

a defendant may be liable to a bystander for an intentional tort if the defendant intentionally uses force against the bystander