Torts Flashcards
What are the prima facie elements of an intentional tort?
- Voluntary act;
- Intent to cause harm;
- Causation; and
- Resulting harm
Define
doctrine of transferred intent
If D intends to commit a tort but causes injury to a different victim OR commits a different tort than intended, original intent is transferred to the new victim/tort
Elements of battery (intentional tort)
- Intentional act;
- That causes harmful or offensive contact
What are the defenses to battery?
- Consent;
- Self-defense;
- Defense of property; and
- Defense of others
Elements of assault
- Intentional act by D that creates;
- P’s reasonable apprehension;
- Of imminent harmful or offensive physical contact; and
- Causation
Elements of false imprisonment
- D intends to confine or restrain P in a bounded area;
- D actually confines or restrains P in bounded area; and
- P knows or is harmed by confinement
Define
shopkeeper’s privilege
A shopkeeper is not liable for false imprisonment if she:
- Has a reasonable suspicion that P has stolen goods;
- Uses reasonable force to detain P; and
- Only detains P for a reasonable time to confirm/deny the suspicion
⚠️ Note: Only non-deadly force allowed. Shopkeeper can be liable for P’s injuries if actions exceed scope of privilege.
Elements of IIED
- D acts intentionally or recklessly;
- With extreme and outrageous conduct; and
- Causes P severe emotional distress
Elements of trespass to land
- D intentionally;
- Physically invades P’s real property
Elements for trespass to chattel
- D intentionally;
- Intermeddles or uses;
- P’s personal property (chattel); and
- Causes damage or loss of use
Define
conversion
D intentionally exercises dominion and control over P’s property so as to deprive them of its use
What are the defenses to intentional torts?
- Consent (express & implied);
- Self-defense;
- Defense of others;
- Defense of property;
- Necessity; and
- Recapture
Elements for self-defense
- D subjectively and reasonably believes harm is imminent; and
- D uses proportional force to protect herself
What is the defense of others defense?
D is entitled to defend another as long as D has a reasonable belief that the party being protected would be entitled to self-defense
What is the necessity defense?
Allows D to reasonably interefere with P’s property to avoid a substantially greater harm (e.g. D damages P’s fence to try and save P’s burning house)
What elements are needed for a bystander recover for IIED?
- D intentionally or recklessly harmed a third party;
- P was present at the scene and witnessed the event;
- P was closely related to victim (i.e. immediate family);
- D knew P was present and closely related; and
- P suffers extreme emotional distress as a result
⚠️ Note: P does not need to prove the above elements if D’s design or purpose was to cause severe emotional distress to P
True or false: Intentionally wrongful actions render D liable for all consequences of those acts, even if unintended and unforeseen
True
Elements of negligence
- Duty of care;
- Breach;
- Actual cause;
- Proximate cause; and
- Damages
What general duty of care is owed?
D owes a duty of reasonable care (i.e. should act like a reasonably prudent person) to all foreseeable plaintiffs in the zone of harm
What is the reasonably prudent person standard of care?
D must act as a reasonably prudent person would under the same circumstances with the same knowledge and capacity as an average person
⭐️ Objective standard
When are children held to the adult standard of care (RPP)?
When engaging in inherently dangerous adult activities (e.g. driving a car or motorcycle)
Is there an affirmative duty to intervene, rescue, or aid another?
No, unless:
- D has a special relationship with P;
- D creates a need for rescue; or
- D undertakes the rescue and P relies on the rescue attempt
What duty is owed to licensees?
Property owner must:
- Exercise reasonable care on the property;
- Warn or correct concealed dangers;
- That are known or should be known;
- In areas where P has access as a licensee
⚠️ Note: No duty to inspect for dangers
What is the attractive nuisance doctrine?
D is liable for child trespassers if:
- D knows of a dangerous, artificial condition on the property;
- That poses a risk of death or great bodily harm to children;
- In a place that D knows or should know children are present;
- Children are too young to appreciate the danger;
- The risk of harm to children outweighs the burden of fixing the condition; and
- D failed to remedy the dangerous condition
What is the standard care for children?
Child must act as a child of similar age, experience, and intelligence would.
⭐️ More subjective than RPP standard
Elements for negligence per se
- Statute imposed duty;
- D did not perform duty;
- P is a member of a class that the statute was designed to protect; and
- Injury caused by D is the type of injury that the statute was designed to protect against
What duty is owed to invitees?
Property owner must:
- Inspect area where invitees have access;
- For non-obvious, unknown dangers;
- Warn the invitee of the dangers; and
- Protect them from the dangers
⚠️ Note: Duty is non-delegable
What is the duty of care for common carriers?
Highest duty of care; liable for even the slightest negligence