Torts Flashcards
Two general propositions about intentional torts
1) Ps extreme sensitivity is ignored in deciding if P has a claim. Assume a person of ordinary sensitivity. 2) For intentional torts, no incapacity defenses.
What are the specific intentional torts? (7)
Battery, Assault, False Imprisonment, Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress, Trespass to Land, Trespass to Chattels, Conversion
What are testable elements of battery?
1) D causes harmful or offensive contact.
2) Contact w/ P’s person.
How do you know if a contact is offensive?
Offensive = unpermitted by a reasonable/ordinary person. EX: unwelcome groping.
What is a “P’s person”?
Anything a P is holding or connected to. EX: purses, people on horseback.
Does a battery not need?
Need not be instantaneous or involve D’s person. EX: poisoning.
What is assault?
1) Place P in reasonable apprehension.
2) Apprehension must be of an immediate battery.
What is the “apprehension” element?
Apprehension is ill chosen. In tort, it means knowledge i.e. P has to see it coming. BUT fear is not necessary
Unloaded gun problem
Threat P can see but is an idle threat. D can’t accomplish anything. If P knows he can’t be touched, no apprehension.
What does it mean that apprehension relate to “immediate battery?”
1) Words alone lack immediacy; you must have conduct. Must be conduct that is a menacing gesture.
2) When you have words and conduct together, words can negate immediacy. EX: “if you weren’t my best friend I’d beat the crap out of you” while shaking fists.
What are the elements of false imprisonment?
1) D must commit an act of restraint.
2) P must then be confined in a bounded area.
What is an act of restraint?
1) Threats are sufficient. Threat must be one that would operate on the mind of a reasonable person.
2) An omission can be an act of restraint if D owed P a pre-existing duty.
3) Act of restraint only counts if P is aware of it or harmed by it. If P is oblivious, no claim.
What is the bounded area requirement?
Area not bounded if there is a reasonable means of escape that P can reasonably discover. If only way out is dangerous, disgusting, humiliating or hidden, no reasonable means of escape.
Intentional infliction of emotional distress
1) D engages in outrageous conduct.
2) P suffers severe emotional distress.
What is outrageous conduct?
R2T: Exceeds all bounds of decency tolerated in a civilized society.
What is not outrageous?
Mere insults. Insults may tip the scale if combined w/ other activities.
What is outrageous i.e. plus factors that make acts more likely to be outrageous?
1) Continuous or repetitive conduct. Why? Looks more like harassment. EX: debt collectors.
2) D is a common carrier or inn keeper. Must exercise courtesy in dealing w/ patrons.
3) P is a member of a fragile class of persons.
4) Prior knowledge of emotional sensitivity and D exploits it.
EX: False notification of death of loved ones done intentionally.
What are the fragile classes of people?
Young children, elderly, pregnant women.
What is severe emotional distress?
1) No specific evidentiary showing required i.e. physical symptoms not mandatory.
2) When this is tested, 80% of the time the element will be negated by stipulating to the opposite in a subtle way i.e. says “P is mildly annoyed,” “briefly irritated.”
Elements of Trespass to Land
1) D commits an act of physical invasion.
2) Land.
What is physical invasion?
1) D enters the land (on purpose). No knowledge that you crossed a boundary line is not required.
2) Throwing something onto the land. Thing being “thrown” must be a physical thing. Intangible invasions aren’t trespass.
What does land mean for trespass?
P has an interest in airspace above land and mineral rights below land. Must be a reasonable distance.
Trespass to chattels and conversion
Both involve intentional interference w/ personal property. This is how you recover for robbery.
What is personal property?
Everything that isn’t land.
What are the two ways a D can interfere with you personal property i.e. commit trespass to chattels or conversion?
1) Damage property.
2) Take away property i.e. deprive of possession.
Difference between trespass to chattels and conversion
1) Minor harm: trespass to chattels
2) Big harm: conversion
What is the special remedy for conversion P?
P gets full value of item in question. Conversion operates as a forced sale. Remedy for trespass to chattels is only cost of repair.
Mistake over ownership for trespass to chattels or conversion?
Not a defense to trespass to chattels or conversion.
What are the affirmative defenses to intentional torts?
1) Consent.
2) Protective privileges. Defense of self, defense of others, and defense of property.
3) Necessity
Who may give consent to intentional torts?
P must have capacity to give consent. This is asymmetrical because you don’t need capacity to commit an intentional tort. Children can consent to age appropriate activities.
What is express consent in intentional torts?
Words and quotes granting D permissions to act in a certain way.
What negates consent?
Fraud or duress.
When is consent implied for intentional torts?
1) Through custom or usage. EX: consent to contacts when you play contact sports.
2) Implied consent based on D’s reasonable interpretation of P’s objective conduct and the surrounding circumstances i.e. body language consent.
What is the scope of consent?
Pay attention! All consent has a scope. If D exceeds the scope of consent, the defense is lost.
Test for protective privileges?
D must show:
1) Proper timing. Threat must be happening imminently or in progress.
2) D must have a reasonable belief that the threat is genuine.
How much force can you use in a protective privilege defense?
Must do only what is necessary to resolve the threat. If there’s a deadly threat, you may use deadly force. In protection of property, always excessive to use deadly force.
What do necessity defenses apply to?
Only to property torts.
Types of necessity?
1) Public necessity: D commits property tort as a necessity to protect community as a whole. Absolute immunity.
2) Private necessity: D commits property tort in emergency to protect an interest of his own. Qualified defense.
What is a person acting under a private necessity liable for?
1) Must pay property owner for any harm done.
2) No nominal or punitive damages.
3) As long as emergency continues, P must allow D to remain in a position of safety.
What is defamation?
1) P must show D made a defamatory statement that identified P.
2) P must show D published that statement.
3) Damages.
What is a defamatory statement that identifies P?
May ID P in any way that allows P to be identified. Don’t need a name. P must be living at the time the statement is made.
What is a defamatory statement?
Defamatory if tends to adversely affect reputation. Mere name calling isn’t defamatory. Assumes all of us have an asset in our good name and reputation.
What is publication (in defamation)?
D must share statement w/ at least one person other than the P. Accidental sharing counts just as much. More wide circulation shows more harm though!
What are damages in defamation?
Some Ps get a presumption of damage. Others don’t.
What is a libel?
Any defamatory statement written down or captured in a permanent format. Libel Ps get presumed damages, but need to give evidence if you want a big award.
What is a slander?
Statement is spoken.
What are the subsets of slander per se?
Presume damages if a slander as to:
1) Statement relates to P’s business or profession.
2) Statement that P committed a serious crime.
3) Statement imputing unchastity to a woman.
4) Statement that a P has a loathsome disease: leprocy and VD.
What is actual damage?
Economic harm. Need to show this if normal slander because no presumption of damage.
What are affirmative defenses in defamation?
1) Express or implied consent.
2) Truth
3) Privilege
Who gets absolute privilege in defamation cases?
1) Spouses: if a married person says something defamatory about a 3d person to spouse, no liability.
2) Officers of the govt: includes judges, lawyers, and Ws.
Who gets qualified privilege in defamation cases?
Whenever a public interest in candor, this can be invoked. Courts do this in case by case situations. EX: letters of recommendation.
When can a speaker invoke qualified privilege?
1) Reasonable and good faith belief the statement was accurate.
2) Must confine statements to matters that are relevant.