Negligence
A pfc for neg requires DBCD.
Negligence
Default: Gnrly, SoC imposed is tht of a reas prudnt psn u/ th circs as measrd by an objve stndrd. H, X ___so he had to act as a reas___ u/ th circs.**T, X’s SoC ws tht of a reas __.
Foll community customs & stat requirements may be relevant as to what conduct is reas, but are not dispositive. Stat compliance does nt est reas care or freedom from fault; it is merely ev of reas care.
NEGLIGENCE
(1) Duty of Care
Invitees: The LOs SoC to an invitee req (1) using reas care u/ circs in conducting activities on land, (2) warning of knwn dngrous cndtions, (3) cndting reas inspctions of prop, and (4) remedying dngrous cndtions. A “LO” is an o/occ/poss of land. An “invitee” is someone who enters land held open to the public, or by invitation for purposes of th LO.
Licensees:
NEGLIGENCE
(1) Duty of Care
Prof: A prof. prsn is expected to exhibit th same skill, knwldge, & care as anther practitioner in same community.
Child: Gnrly, SoC imposed is tht of a reas prdnt prsn u/ th circ’s as measured by an obj stndrd. A child must act as a reas prsn of like age, intell, edction, and exprience. H/e whn a C engages in an adult activity, he mst conform to same SoC as an adult engaged in such activity.
NEGLIGENCE
(1) Duty of Care
U/ CL, and modernly in some jxs, [common carriers / innkeepers] are hld to the highest DoC, liable for slight neg, consistent w/ practical business operation.
U/ the maj, SoC imposed on autmbile drivers towards guests and paying passengers is that of a reas prudent person u/ circs. U/ the min a guest may nt recover based on neg. Guest mst est D acted willfully and wantonly according to guest statutes.
A medical dr is hld to degree of care & skill of av qual practitioner. Most cts analyze doc’s cndct u/ national stndrds rather thn those in the doc’s community. Dr hs a dty to obtain informed consent frm patient b4 treatment, which req dr to disclose risks of treatment tht a reas patient wld want to know.
Negligence
SoC/Breach - NPS: Violation of a statte is NPS whn a statte defines the stand. of reas condct. A P may est a dty & brch of dty by proving:
(1) he is in class of pple intended to be protected by statute,
(2) intrst and harm are the type intended to be protected, and
(3) harm materializes in manner tht ws of legislative concern.
There are 2 exceptions when the standard of care will not be substituted for the statute even when the above test is met: when the Ds <em><strong>compliance with the statute would have been more dangerous that the violation of it</strong></em>; and <strong><em>when compliance with the statute is impossible</em></strong>.
Negligence
Breach: A D bches dty whn his cndct falls short of applic SoC owd to P.
Res Ipsa Loquitur: In absence of direct ev, D’s brch may be inferred under RIL doc, if P prves accidenct was
(1) kind tht ord does nt occur w/out neg
(2) caused by an agent or instrumentality w/in D’s exclusive cntrl, and
(3) not due to plaintiff’s action.
Negligence
Causation P mst prve D’s acts are AC (c-in-f) and PC (legal) of th P’s injury.
NEGLIGENCE
(4) Damages
Dgs Neg req prsnl injury or prop dgs. Claims for purely economic loss are generally not allowed.
Comp Dgs must be causal and certain.
Personal = P may recover special & general dgs, incl lost earnings, medical $, & pain & suffering. Foreseeabiltiy of extent of harm gnrly irrelevant b/c D takes P as he finds P.
Property = P may recover diff b/w FMV of prop immediately b4, or after, injury, or repair costs if costs do not exceed the prop value.
Punitive - may recover if clear & convincing ev est D acted w and w, recklessly, or with malice. H,T
Mitigation P has duty to take reas steps to mitigate dgs; failure to do so precluds recov of add harm causd by injury aggravation. <em>H,T</em>
Negligence
Defenses
Contributory / comparative neg, and assumption of risk require fault by the P. H, X did nt contribute to the [describe injury], or was aware of the [describe danger] to knowingly and voluntarily assume the risk of harm. Thus, no defenses applied.
Defenses
CN deprives a P from dgs whn she contributed to the legal cause of injuries by failing to exercise reas care for her own safety.
Ass of Risk: is a sbjctve stndrd, barring a P frm recovery whre she is aware of danger, & assumes risk of harm arising frm D’s acts (1) knwingly, and (2) voluntarily. H,T
Negligence
<em>Only applies when multiple defendants:</em>
Indemnity: A tortfeasor who discharges liability is entitled to indemnity whn (1) actual wrongdoer has a primary duty by (a) K, (b) vicarious liability, or (c) strict prdcts liability, and (2) tortfeasor fails to discover or prevent actual wrongdoer’s misconduct.
Contribution: A D who pays mre thn its apportioned share of dgs, has a contribution claim against other tortfeasors jointly and severally to the same P.
Negligent Hiring, Supervision, Retention
A pfc for neg req: D, B, C, D. An e’er may be liable for neg hiring, supervision, or retention of an e’ee.
Common Law Defamation A P may bring
US Constitution Defamation
A P may brng a def action (1) if th D’s defam langge, (2) of or concrnng th P, (3) is pub to a 3P who u/stands its defam nature, (4) damages the P’s reputation.
In conclusion (conclude on common law defamation
Common Law Defamation
US Constitution - Public Concern
USCx - Pub Concern: U/ USCx, if defam s/ment invlves a pub concrn, P mst prve D’s (1) fault reg (2) falsity of s/ment. H,T
In conclusion, (conclude on constitutional defamation).
Common law Defamation
US Constitution - Public Concern
Defenses
Consent:
Truth: If the defamatory s/ment is factually accurate, the D has a complete defense. Defamatory s/ments are presumed false, unless the s/ments involve public concern. H,T
Absolute Priv: In certn situatns, sch as (1) b/w spouses (2) dring a jud procedng, (3) in a leg procedng, n (4) required media pub’s, AP prvdes immunity, even if the action is wrng, malicious, or done with an improper motive. H,T
Qualified Priv: S/ments made u/ the foll circ’s are subject to QP: (1) affctng an importnt public concrn, (2) in th intrst of th publsher (D), sch as defnding its reputations, or (3) in the intrst of a 3P or recipient. H,T
DEFAMATION - Trade Libel
Defenses
Privileges
For a trade libel claim, the P must prove(1) false disparaging s/ment, (2) of or concerning the P’s (a) bus. prpp title, (b) bus quality, or (c) product quality, (3) published to a 3P (4) with intent (5) to damage the business. H,T
Defenses - Truth: If the disparaging s/ment is factually accurate, the D has a complete defense. H,T
Privileges
Loss of Consortium
A spouse may recover against a D for injuring his/her spouse and depriving him/her of the bens of te spousal r/ship incl. the loss of companionship, comfort, society, and sexual services. <em>H, G hit and severly injured P. H, as P’s spouse, might be compensated for loss of comp, comf, soc, and sex services. T, H could recover for loss of consortium.</em>
Strict Liability
A PF case for SL req (1) dty to make Ps person or prop safe, (2) B, (3) C (A and P), and (4) D.
(1) An animal owner is SL for injries a domestic animal causs if he knws or hrtk of animal’s dngrous propnsty. H,T
(1) A wild animal owner is SL for harm animal does, despite precautions owner or possessor takes to confine the animal or prevent the harm, ala P did nt do anything knwngly to bring about th injury. H,T
(1) Abnormally Dangerous Activity An activity may be ultrahazardous if it (1) is not common in the community, (2) inherently involves risk of serious harm, and (3) cannot be performd w/ cmplte safty. A minority of cts consider the value of th activity and its appropriateness to the location. H,T
Strict Liability
Domestic / Wild animals / Abnormally Dang Activity
(1) Duty
(2) Breach
(3) Causation (same as negligence)
(4) Damages (same as negligence)
Duty The dty owd is to make absolutely safe the ultrahazardous activity, regardless of precautions to prevent harm. This dty is gnrly owd to all foreseeable Ps but limited to only the kind of harm expected to be caused by the activity.
Breach occurs whn thr is a failure to maintain the dty (make absolutely safe the ultrahazardous activity).
Strict Liability - A pfc for SL requires…
A pfc for SL req (1) D to mke P’s psn or prop safe, (2) B, (3) C, &(4) D.
[Stop here if no duty, continue if yes].
INTENTIONAL TORTS (7 - FAT BITCh)
Defenses (SCORN SPA)
Assault occ whn D’s (1) I (2) ovrt act causes P to experience (3) RA of an (4) imminent battery.
Battery: is (1) H or O contact (2) w/ P’s prsn (3) causd by D’s intntional act. H, J cut brakes in N’s car bt did nt directly <u>contact</u> N’s <u>person.</u> Since N lent car to P, thr ws no <u>indirect contact</u>. J’s act ws <u>intentional</u> b/c .
FI reslts whn a prsn (1) intnds to confine or restrain (2) another prsn (3) to a bounded area, & (4) action directly or indirectly results in sch confinement.
Tres to Land: occ whn Ds (1) IA (2) causes a phys invasion of (3) P’s (4) RP.
Tres to Chat: A D is liable if he (1) I commits an act tht (2) interferes w/ (3) P’s right of possession of chat & (4) causes dgs. A P may recover actual dgs (repair costs). H, <u>N possessed</u><strong> </strong>car so she ws proper P. J <u>intentionally interfered</u> w/ N’s car by cutting brake lines. The cutting of brake lines <u>caused damages</u> to Ns car b/c brakes failed to work. N could recover the car’s repair costs.
Conversion: A D is liable if he (1) I commits an act of (2) possession or interference w/ P’s chattel so (3) serious tht s/he deprives P of chattel & (4) causes dgs. H,… J intended to tamper w/ N’s car by cutting brake lines. P drove off cliff whn brakes failed. N incurred car repair expenses, ws inconvenienced by nt being able to drive car. Harm to car was extensive b/c could not be driven safely.
IIED: A D is liable whn (1) E or O conduct (2) causes P S&E distress, & (3) damages.
DEFENSES
INVASION OF PRIVACY
Rule statement for all 4 causes of action
Invasion of Privacy covers 4 causes of action.
Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress
U/ maj rule, a P cn recov for NIED frm a D who creates a fores risk of inj that causs (1) a threat of phys impact leading to ED, or severe ED likely to result in phys symptms, (2) if th P is w/in the ZofD, & (3) has acompnyng phys inj.H, G, her teacher, and S created a forese risk of inj, as analyzed above.