Torts!!! Flashcards
What is the intent requirement for intentional torts?
Acts with the purpose of causing the consequence, OR
Knows the consequence is SUBSTANTIALLY CERTAIN to follow
What is required to prove the tort of battery?
Causes a HARMFUL or OFFENSIVE
contact
with the person of another;
and acts with the INTENT to cause that contact or the apprehension of that contact
What does it mean, in a battery, for contact to be offensive?
Person of ordinary sensibilities would find contact offensive.
In a battery, does the victim need to be aware of the contact?
Nope! can be unconscious and still battery
Is it a battery if the contact is not objectively offensive, but the victim is hypersensitive?
Yes, IF the defendant knows that the victim is hypersensitive.
In a battery, what needs to be intended, specifically?
The contact, NOT the offense.
Does the doctrine of transferred intent apply to battery?
YES
What is required for punitive damages in a battery case?
Defendant to act, either:
OUTRAGEOUSLY, or
with MALICE
What is required to prove an assault?
Defendant does something that:
causes REASONABLE APPREHENSION
of an IMMINENT harmful/offensive bodily contact; and
INTENDS to cause such apprehension of contact or to cause the contact itself
What does it mean for an assault to cause apprehension of an IMMINENT contact?
Without SIGNIFICANT DELAY
What is required to prove intentional infliction of emotional distress (IIED)?
D intentionally or recklessly engaged in
EXTREME and OUTRAGEOUS conduct that causes P
severe emotional distress
For an IIED claim, what makes D’s conduct extreme and outrageous?
What will make a court more likely to find e+o conduct?
“exceeds possible limits of human decency, so as to be entirely intolerable in a civilized society.”
D is in position of AUTHORITY or INFLUENCE over P
P is member of group with HEIGHTENED SENSITIVITY (like kids or elderly)
When is a D liable for IIED to third parties?
Immediate family member: if present/perceives conduct, liable, regardless of injury
Bystander: if present/perceives and suffers bodily injury, liable
What is required for tort of false imprisonment?
D intends to CONFINE or RESTRAIN another within fixed boundaries
Actions directly OR indirectly result in confinement; and
P is CONSCIOUS of the confinement OR HARMED by it
What is the intent requirement for false imprisonment?
D acts with PURPOSE of confining P, OR
KNOWING that P’s confinement is SUBSTANTIALLY CERTAIN to result
Is consent by mistake a defense to intentional torts?
Yes, still a valid defense UNLESS D Caused mistake or
D knew of mistake and took advantage of it
Is fraudulent consent a defense against intentional tort claims?
No, consent by fraud is invalid IF it goes to an essential matter.
What is trespass to chattels?
Intentional interference
w/P’s right to possession of personal property by either:
1) dispossessing P of chattel; or
2) using/intermeddling with chattel, or
3) damaging chattel
What is conversion?
Intentionally
depriving P of possession of chattel or
interfering with P’s chattel in a manner so serious as to DEPRIVE him entirely of its use
Is mistake of law a defense to conversion? Mistake of fact?
Neither!
What’s the difference between trespass to chattels and conversion?
I.e., what factors do courts consider to tell the difference?
MORE EXTREME = MORE LIKELY CONVERSION
Duration/extent of interference
D’s intent to assert a right inconsistent with rightful possessor
D’s good faith
Expense or inconvenience to P
Extent of harm
What’s the difference between private necessity and public necessity as a defense to trespass?
What result for each?
Private: needed to trespass to prevent INJURY or HARM to self
Public: needed to trespass to protect a large number of people from public calamities (e.g., pool during a fire)
Different results: private = actual damages; public = no damages
What’s a private nuisance?
Activity that:
SUBSTANTIALLY and
UNREASONABLY
interferes with another’s
USE and ENJOYMENT of land
How do courts determine an interference is unreasonable in a private nuisance claim?
Balance interference with utility of nuisance
What’s a public nuisance?
Unreasonable interference with a right common to public as whole.
Who can sue for a PUBLIC nuisance?
Public official on behalf of public
Private individual ONLY IF harmed in a special or unique way, different from general public/
Is there a duty to an unforeseeable plaintiff?
NO! NO DUTY TO UNFORESEEABLE PLAINTIFF!
What are some exceptions to the lack of an affirmative duty to act?
Assumption of duty: voluntary undertaking to aid/rescue by you puts on you a duty of reasonable care in performance of that aid or rescue
placing another in danger
authority: person with ability/actual authority to control another must exercise reasonable care
relationship: e.g., innkeeper/guest
What effect do a D’s mental and emotional characteristics play on the standard of care applied to him?
NONE! presumed to have AVERAGE mental abilities and knowledge
What effect do a D’s physical characteristics play on the standard of care applied to him?
Modified standard: compared with reasonably prudent person with same characteristics
What effect does intoxication play on the standard of care applied to a D?
none, held to objective standard UNLESS intoxication was involuntary
What standard of care is applied to children?
Modified: reasonable child of similar age, intelligence, and experience
UNLESS child is engaged in HIGH-RISK, ADULT activities, then objective standard for adults is used
What is the standard of care applied to common carriers?
To innkeepers?
Common carriers: utmost care
Innkeepers: ordinary negligence (used to be utmost care)
What rules govern a standard of care of a bailee (someone who temporarily takes possession of another’s property)?
Bailor (owner) must warn a gratuitous bailee of KNOWN, dangerous conditions
IF bailor receives sole benefit, then bailee has lesser duty
IF bailee receives a benefit, then he has a higher duty of care
What is the standard of care applied to someone in an emergency situation?
That of a reasonable person under the same circumstances
What’s the difference between a trespasser, a licensee, and an invitee?
Under the traditional approach, what is the standard of care for each?
Under the modern (CA) approach?
Trespasser: someone on land without consent or privilege
–duty = refrain from willful, wanton, intentional, or reckless misconduct (e.g., no spring guns/traps)
Licensees: enters land with express/implied permission
–duty = reasonably safe; warn licensees of CONCEALED dangers (i.e., make it as safe as it is for you)
Invitees: someone on land for ECONOMIC or material purpose (business customers; public land)
–duty = reasonable care. inspect property; discover unreasonably dangerous conditions; take reasonable steps to address
CA approach: this is just a FACTOR. reasonable care standard
What duty is owed to UNDISCOVERED trespassers?
NO DUTY OWED
What duty is owed to discovered or anticipated trespassers?
Must warn or protected from hidden dangers
What is the attractive nuisance doctrine?
May be liable for injuries to CHILDREN trespassing on land if:
1) ARTIFICIAL condition exists where owner KNOWS or should know that children are likely to trespass;
2) owner knows/should know that the artificial condition poses an unreasonable risk of DEATH or serious BODILY HARM;
3) child, because of age, doesn’t discover/cannot appreciate danger;
4) utility of maintaining the condition is slight compared to risk of injury; and
5) owner fails to exercise reasonable care
Can a business/public land possessor avoid the duty of care by assigning care of property to an independent contractor?
NOPE!!!
Generally, how is custom used in establishing a standard of care?
Admissible, NOT dispositive
How is custom used in establishing a standard of care for “professionals” (doctors, lawyers, accountants, electricians)?
Admissible and DISPOSITIVE
Compliance with custom is a shield: NO breach
Deviation is a sword: BREACH
Do doctors have to explain risks of a medical procedure to patients?
Yes, but not if:
- they’re commonly KNOWN.
- patient is UNCONSCIOUS
- patient is INCOMPETENT
- patient WAIVES/REFUSES the info
- patient would be HARMED by disclosure (e.g., heart attack)
What is required for the breaking of a statute to constitute PER SE negligence?
1) Criminal law or regulatory statute imposes a particular DUTY for the benefit of others
2) D VIOLATED the statute
3) P is in CLASS intended to be protected by statute
4) Accident was TYPE OF HARM statute intended to protect against
5) harm was CAUSED by the violation
What defenses are available to excuse failure to comply with a statute such that it’s NOT per se negligence?
Compliance was MORE DANGEROUS than following
Compliance was IMPOSSIBLE
Emergency JUSTIFIED violation
Incapacity (physical)
Exercised reasonable care in attempt to comply
Law was too vague to follow