TORTS Flashcards
In an indivisible injury (no clear way to discern which D caused which portion of injury) caused by two defendants, how is liability apportioned?
Joint and several liability - meaning each defendant can be liable for the full amount.
When there are two defendants but the injuries to P can be apportioned, is D1 liable for a portion of D2’s damages if D2 is bankrupt?
No. Without joint/several liability (and where damages are apportioned to each D), there is only causation (and liability) as to the injury specifically caused by the individual.
D1 negligently hits P and breaks P’s leg. At the hospital, D2 negligently amputates P’s leg. In suit against D1 and D2, the jury awards $500,000 in damages for loss of the leg. What is the judgment amount against D1?
a) the full $500,000
b) $500,000-damages for amputation
c) damages only for amputation
d) requires knowledge of % of apportionment of fault
A) the loss of the leg is an indivisible injury - so there is joint and several liability unless the jury apportions damages.
P suffers one injury at the hands of D1 and D2. Jury awards $100K but also finds P 10% comparatively at fault. How much is D1 liable for?
a) more info needed
b) $45K
c) $90K
d) $100K
a) more information is needed! The jury’s finding that P was 10% liable means that the jurisdiction follows comparative fault (majority rule) and so a percentage of fault of each D must be made by the jury.
How are damages apportioned against defendants in a case where the plaintiff is partially at fault?
All the defendants must be named and present to determine fault, and the jury has to determine the percentage of liability for all tortfeasors (even those not named). Distinct from J/S liability!
What are the preconditions to joint and several liability?
(1) Plaintiff cannot be partially at fault and (2) the injury has to be indivisible (not capable of apportionment between Ds).
How are damages apportioned against two defendants in a case where the P is not at fault but the injury is not indivisible?
In this case, the jury would have to apportion damages and find the % of contribution of each defendant.
Under what circumstances can a parent be liable for a tort committed by their child? (3)
“SAD” (and it IS sad, isn’t it?)
(1) aware of dangerous proclivity and fail to Supervise
(2) Agency: kiddo performs task for “family purpose”
(3) Dangerous instrument furnished to kiddo
P alleges that D breached a duty of care owed to P. Which of the following could be true?
- D is not liable because there are no damages alleged.
- D will be held liable because there is general duty of care to prevent foreseeable Plaintiffs from foreseeable harm
- If D is accused of an intentional tort, P could recover
a) 1 only
b) 1 and 2
c) 1 and 3
d) 3 only
c) - actual damages must be alleged for a negligence case but are not needed to be proven for intentional torts
When can pre-judgment interest be awarded to a plaintiff?
When it is a liquid sum not subject to jury discretion - e.g. past medical bills.
D hates P. D swings a stick at P’s head but P ducks down to tie his shoe and misses the blow. Later on, P’s friend tells P about what happened and P becomes frightened and faints. What tort did D commit?
a) assault
b) battery
c) IIED
d) none
c) this was “extreme, outrageous, reckless intentional conduct” by D (2) causing P (3) to suffer severe emotional distress that (4) manifested by objective symptoms (physically))
Which of the following will require P to prove actual damages in a trespass to land action?
a) D flies over P’s house at low altitude
b) D chases some kiddos onto P’s property
c) D enters P’s land to avoid a charging bear
d) D refuses to leave after being ordered to do so
c) When it’s to escape an emergency situation (in other words, defense of necessity applies), then D is not liable for nominal damages but only actual damages (burden is on P to prove).
D’s dog bites P. which of the following is least correct regarding D’s liability?
a) D will only be liable if his dog had previously actually bitten someone
b) if plaintiff is an adult trespasser on D’s property, D will not be liable even if dog had previously bitten someone
c) D will not be strictly liable if he was unaware of his dog’s actions
d) D will not be liable if his dog had never before demonstrated dangerous propensities and P was bitten after she had broken open the dog’s kennel and let the dog out
a) dog owners are strictly liable for their dogs only after they become aware of the dog’s dangerous propensities
Which of the following is true regarding res ipsa loquitur doctrine?
a) proof of breach need not be shown under res ipsa loquitur.
b) to establish res ipsa loquitur, P must prove the injury was the type that would not occur in the absence of someone’s negligence and that D had notice that such injury might occur
c) Res ipsa loquitur establish P’s prima facia case for negligence against D.
a) - res ipsa means you don’t have to prove the breach. b) is wrong because P needs to establish that it’s the type of accident that wouldn’t occur without negligence and that the operative instrument was under D’s control - notice is not an element. C is wrong because res ipsa only removes the breach and causation elements required for a prima facie case
D was angry that motorcycles were speeding down the public road in front of his house so he strung a rope across the public road. P was later injured when he rode his bike into the rope after not paying attention to where he was going. What result if P sues D?
a) No recovery if the accident occurred in a contributory fault state.
b) no recovery if D can prove that P saw the rope and had an opportunity to avoid the accident
c) P can recover 100% of his injuries if the accident occurred in a comparative fault state?
d) P can recover in a comparative fault state only if she can show D was reckless
C - neither comparative nor contributory fault is a defense against intentional torts or reckless, willful, or wanton misconduct by D.
Which of the following is an incorrect statement?
a) truth is not a defense to the tort of publication of private facts
b) damages for the tort of commercial appropriation of likeness is determined by the actual commercial losses suffered by P
c) the tort of publication in a false light requires that D intentionally publicized a false attribution which case a highly offensive light on P
d) the tort of intrusion requires that the intrusion be highly offensive to a reasonable person.
b) the proper amount of damages for commercial appropriation of likeness is D’s commercial advantage, not P’s commercial disadvantage
P is injured in an auto accident when thrown from his vehicle due to a defective door latch. P sues the auto manufacturer. Which of the following is the D’s best defense in a strict products liability action?
a) P could have avoided the injury by locking his car
b) P operated a shuttle service using the car. For that reason the car door was opened & closed far more often than is typical.
c) P could have discovered the defect had he performed an inspection of the door
d) A recall was issued over a year ago notifying all purchasers of the defect - P failed to replace his latch.
d) a recall suggests that P assumed the risk by not replacing the latch – note that operating a shuttle service was probably foreseeable…
D sends P a letter accusing him of sexual misconduct. P’s spouse opens the letter and leaves P as a result of the false facts in the communication. In a defamation suit, P will:
a) prevail because D’s accusation constitutes libel per se
b) Not prevail unless D knew that P’s wife was in the habit of opening P’s mail
c) Not prevail unless D made the accusation with knowledge of its falsity
d) Not prevail because there is an absolute inter spousal immunity
b) to be defamation, the statement needs to be publicized.
What are the four categories in which damages will be presumed in a defamation case where P is a private figure?
LUNI: Loathsome disease, Unchastity, Notorious Criminal allegation, Injury in trade, business, or profession. *note that the plaintiff still has to prove falsity and a certain amount of intent
What are the elements of defamation?
FPID: False statement, Publicized to 3rd party, Intent/negligence element (varies depending on the figure/subject matter), and Damages result
What are the defenses to strict product liability?
SCAAM: State of the art, Comparative fault (not a plaintiff-harsh contributory negligence rule), Assumption of risk, Alteration (downstream retailer), Misuse/overuse
What kinds of torts/instruments can give rise to strict liability? (5)
Wild animals, Abnormally-dangerous activities, Statute imposes, product liability, worker’s comp
What are the main defenses to tort liability based on negligence?
Contributory negligence (including “last clear chance”), comparative fault (not for intentional torts), and assumption of risk
What are the defenses/privileges applicable to intentional torts?
Consent; Defense of Self, Others, or Property; Recapture of chattels; Necessity; Under Color of Law; “Justification” (catch-all)