Torts Flashcards
Elements of Intentional Torts
Requires an act
Intent to bring physical or mental effect
Causation
Intent for Torts
Either desire or purpose OR
Knows w/ substantial certainty effect will occur
Transferred Intent Torts
Same tort different person
Different tort same person
Different tort different person
Cannot be invoked w/ conversion or IIED
Causation Intentional Torts
Need not be direct (i.e. setting in motion)
Assault Tort
Intentional causing of an
Apprehension of an
Imminent
Harmful or offensive contact
Apprehension Assault
Must be reasonable
Must be aware
Imminent Assault
Apparent present ability to
Carry out threat
Not future or hypothetical harm
Harmful or offensive contact Assault
Touching that causes pain or bodily damage OR
Offends reasonable person’s sense of dignity
Battery Tort
Intentional infliction of
Harmful or offensive
Bodily conduct
Harmful or offensive Battery
Touching that causes pain or bodily damage OR
Offends reasonable person’s sense of dignity
Bodily conduct Battery
Can be indirect including contact w/
Object closely identified w/ plaintiff’s body
False Imprisonment
Intentionally causes
Plaintiff to be confined, restrained or detained to
Bounded area w/ no reasonable means of escape
Plaintiff is either aware or harmed
Plaintiff to be confined, restrained or detained to False Imprisonment
Use of physical force, threats, duress,
Invalid legal authority OR refusing safe means of escape
Shopkeeper’s privilege
For reasonable time and manner
Detain suspected shoplifter
Typically 10-15 minutes
Bounded area False Imprisonment
Can be large and does not have to be stationary
Plaintiff is either aware or harmed False Imprisonment
Must be conscious or, if not
Must be harmed in some way
IIED
Intentional or reckless infliction of
Severe emotional or mental distress caused by
Defendant’s extreme & outrageous conduct
Intent IIED
Desire or
Knows w/ substantial certainty OR
Reckless disregard for high
Probability distress will occur
Severe emotional or mental distress IIED
Beyond reasonable person should endure
Can be evidenced by defendant’s conduct
Hypersensitivity
Only liable if defendant knew of sensitivity
Extreme & outrageous conduct IIED
Beyond all possible bounds of decency
Usually if defendant in position of
Authority or influence OR
Plaintiff member of group w/ heightened sensitivity
3rd Party Liability IIED
Plaintiff physically present & known by defendant AND
Close relation to other person OR
Suffers bodily harm as result of distress
Trespass to Land
Can be brought by anyone w/ legal possession; not just owner Intentional Physical invasion to Land of another Mistake of fact not defense
Physical invasion Trespass to Land
Entry w/ out permission
Remaining w/ out right to be there OR
Placing or projecting object w/out permission
Trespass to Chattel
Intentional Interference w/ use or possession Of chattel Damages Mistake of fact not defense
Interference w/ use or possession Trespass to Chattel
Owner precluded from using or possessing
Typically temporary
Damages Trespass to Chattel
Actual damages
Loss of value caused by loss of use OR
Cost of repair
Conversion
Intentional
Interference w/ use or possession that
So substantial warrants full value
Damages
Interference w/ use or possession that Conversion
Sells to 3rd party
Refuses to give back OR
Destroys
So substantial warrants full value Conversion
Courts take into account: Duration & extent of interference Intent to assert right inconsistent w/ Rightful possess w/ good faith Expense or inconvenience to plaintiff Extent of harm
Damages Conversion
FMV at time of conversion
Self Defense Torts
Reasonable force to prevent Threatened harm or offensive contact AND Threatened confinement or imprisonment Deadly force: Only allowed if defendant in Danger of death or SBI Degree of force: Only degree necessary to Prevent threatened harm
Defense of Others Torts
Reasonable force to defend
Another when
Reasonably believes that other person
Could have used force to defend himself
Defense of Property Torts
Reasonable force to defend against
Tortious harm to property
Warning required unless appears futile or dangerous
Deadly force:
Only if non-deadly force will not suffice AND reasonably believes danger of death or SBI
NO mechanical devices (i.e. Home Alone)
Recapture of Chattel
Reasonable force to regain possession if:
Fresh pursuit
NO deadly force
Consent Defense Torts
May be express or implied
Scope:
Not beyond what consented to
Express or Implied
Express Consent Defense Torts
Must be willing and knowing
Consent by mistake valid defense
Consent by fraud invalid if essential matter
Implied Consent Defense Torts
Emergency
Injuries arising from athletic contests
Mutual consent to combat
Defense of Necessity Torts
Enters land or interferes with property to
Prevent injury or severe harm
Private or Public
Private Defense of Necessity Torts
Must pay for actual damages caused
Not liable for nominal damages
Landowner may not use force to exclude
Public Defense of Necessity Torts
When necessary to protect
Large number of people from public calamities
Insanity Defense Torts
Generally no defense if able to
Form requisite intent to do so
Negligence Torts
Defendant’s conduct imposes
Unreasonable risk upon another
Resulting in injury
Duty
Breach
Causation
Damages
Duty Negligence
Act as reasonable person Who is it owed to Foreseeable plaintiffs (majority): In the zone of danger Everyone (minority): Including unforeseeable
Standard of Care Duty
Reasonable person under circumstances
Physical characteristics of defendant
Voluntarily intoxicated held to same standard as sober
Not mental characteristics
Special Duties Negligence
Common carrier Innkeepers Automobile drivers Special relationship Causing the danger Volunteer assistance
Common carrier Duty
Highest duty of care w/
Practical operation of business
Innkeepers Duty
Ordinary negligence (majority) Slight negligence (minority)
Automobile drivers Duty
Ordinary care (majority) Refrain from wanton & willful misconduct (minority)
Special relationship Duty based on:
Business or landowner holding premises open to public
Landlords and tenants
Or other special relationships
Volunteer assistance
Must proceed w/ reasonable care
Professional Duties
Required to possess knowledge and skill
Of their profession or occupation
Fireman’s Rule
Risk takers are prohibited from suing or
Injuries stemming from assumed risk of profession
Children Duties
Conform to conduct of child of like
Age, intelligence, and experience
Exception
Child engaged in adult activity (i.e. driving)
Bailor Duties
For gratuitous, bailor must:
Inform of known, dangerous defects in chattel
Bailment for hire
Inform of defects of which should know
Bailee duties
Sole benefit for bailor Standard is low Sole benefit for bailee Higher standard of care Mutual benefit Ordinary standard of care
Land Duties
Off Premises
Trespassers
Invitee
Licensee
Dutiy to Off Premises Injuries
Not liable for injuries resulting from natural conditions
Duty to Trespassers
Owes no duty to undiscovered trespassers but
Must refrain from willful, wanton, or intentional misconduct