TORTS AND PRODUCTS LIABILITY OUTLINE
Christopher Brainard
Torts:
Good
C/A=1)Elements; 2)Defenses?
Intentional Torts(Analyzing)=1)P’s
hypersensitivity irrelevant(not a Defense){no
incapacity defense(eg: kid{Garret v. Daly}Mental
incompetent, insane, drunk=OK).
Causation=direct or indirect! Intent(reckless)
to do act.
Battery
1)Harmful/Offensive Conduct
(“unpermitted” to rsbl person{tap on shoulder=no
battery; C studying & V comes in & strokes her
hair=battery}); 2)W/P’s person (“anything”{Plate,cane,dog,your
horse=Its like “couties”})
Assault
1)D put P in Rsbl
Apprehension of;
2)Unpermitted touching/Battery (Rsbl; not
fear, just unpleasant touching may occur{David &
Goliath}; Unloaded gun? Look at it from P’s
point of view), (Words alone never are enough;
need some kind of act{move towards you}; Words
can negate action{Shake fist & say,”I’m going to
get you at 3pm”or “If you weren’t my friend.”})
False
Imprisonment
1)Act of
Restraint
(words {You leave I’ll shoot}; Omission
{jailer refuses release; busdriver}; Irrelevant
how long;
2)Resulting
Confinement in Bounded in Area
(Keeping you out or excluding=nothing{cool club;
abortion clinic}; P must know of confinement
or suffer harm{asleep & I lock then
unlock=nothing, If lock & nurse can’t bring
medicine=FI}). W/o Rsbl means of escape that
P can Rsbly discover {locked in basement
w/pipe that leads out w/rats=not rsbl means of
escape; butler locks you in library to wait
w/secret switch out=not rsbl way to discover}).
Intentional
Infliction of Emotional Distress
1)D committed
outrageous conduct
(exceeds bounds of decency in civilized society;
mere insults=no; Hallmarks of Outrageousness: in
public, continuous, common carrier/innkeeper{supposed
to be nice to you}; fragile class of
persons{young persons/elderly/pregnant women};
{practical joker puts fake rattle snake on chair
& he is scared{hypersensitivity}of snakes
w/heart attack}=Outrageous if
hypersensitivity known to D & purposely
exploited).
2)P suffered
severe emotional distress
Bystander=Either
IIED or:
1)family member; 2)present;
3)knew 1&2.
Trespass to Land
1)Intent
(only that got there on purpose; sleepwalker,
pass out onto land; pushed=no intent).
2)Act Physical
Invasion
(enteràthrow/expel
object{water/particulate/smoke if residue; not
sounds/shockwave/odor})
3)Land
(Sky/earth column to rsbl distance{plane
35k ft=no; little kid throws ball over your
prop}).
Trespass to
Chattels & Conversion
(Damage or taking of chattel=damage
modest/substantial-forced sale).
Same as TL except
Chattel; Car Scratch then TC, Bash its
conversion; Borrow car is TC steal it or lose it
Conversion. Bring to vet Dog w/messed paw & he
castrates it=Small harm TC; If champion dog then
conversion.
Defenses
Consent:
Scope to Rsbl person’s interpretation of P’s
conduct(express/implied). Not by
fraud/coercion is invalidàScope
of consent{herpes-fraudulent omission}.
Capacity to consent?
Defense: Self,
Others, Prop=Imminent/in
progress{no revenge}); D-Prop(Shopkeeper’s
privilege)=Rsbl belief & act {never GBH/death-may
bluff}(not if privileged entry); Self-D=Rsbl
belief&act; D-others=Accurate belief&Rsbl
act.
Necessity=Defense
only to prop(TL, TC/Conv); Public=invade P’s
prop % to protect communityàabsolute
Defense{rat/rabid dog}; Private=to preserve %
of ownàmust
pay for actual harm(no punitives or nominal)
&may continue use until danger subsides{O may
not expel till it subsides}.
Fraud=1)False;
2)Knew False; 3)Intended P to rely; 4)P
justifiably relied; 5)Pecuniary Damages
Interference of
Business Interests=1)K/Expectancy
Relationship; 2)D aware of; 3)Intentional
Interference to induce breach/terminate
expectancy; 4)Pecuniary Damages
Malicious
Prosecution=1)Institution
of Judicial Proceedings; 2)Ended in favor of P;
3)W/o prob cause; 4)Ulterior motive;
5)Damages(e.g. lawyer fees).
Abuse Due
Process=1)Using
process for ulterior purpose; 2)Definite
act/threat in pursuit of that ulterior purpose.
Defamation(C/L)=not
survive death
1)Defamatory
Statement(hurts
reputation; usually more than insultsàneed
fact assertion that isn’t true!; opinion
if implies possession of fact{Pres of bar
association says I wouldn’t put funds w/him}; P
living).
2)Publication
(negligently revealed to at least one other than
P).
3)Damages=Economic
Harm not nominal or emotional.
Libel=Written
in anyway or picture, video etcèpresumed
damages(get
to jury w/o proof).
Slander=Oralèprove
Damages
unless Slander per se
Slander Per Se=1)Bus;
2)Crime Moral Turp; 3)Loathsome disease;
4)Unchaste womenèpresume
damages.
(Con Law Def)
Matter of Public Concern=Public
figure: 4)False; 5)Fault:
Malice(recklessness)èdamages
presumed;
Private Figure=Malice(reckless)èdamages
presumed; Neg OK but prove damages.
Defenses(Affirmative)è1)Consent;
2)Truth(Burden on D at C/L); 3)Privilege=
i)absolute
privilege=between
spouses, officers of gov in scope of job;
ii)qualified
privilege=a)social
purpose{police/credit reports}; b)relevant to
purpose; c)good faith.
Privacy Torts=Not
survive death
Appropriation=1)use
name/likeness for; 2)commercial gain(Ad,
packaging, trademark). Exception: News(Malice).
Intrusion=1)Invasion
of 2)Rsbl expectation of privacy/seclusion
in 3)manner objectionable to rsbl person.
No physical entry is necessary. Picture into
Cars are gray area.
False Light=1)Dissemination(not
just publication) of; 2)P in false
light(views/actions); 3)Objectionable
rsbl person. Eg. John is a war hero,
democrat, or picture placed right next. Not
intentional tort.
Disclosure
Private Affairs=1)Dissemination
of; 2)confidential info;
3)objectionable to average person. H is a
4.0 GPA. Must be truly confidentialàPrivate
but if out in open can’t complain.
Public Cocern/Public
Figure=Newsworthiness
or public concern: P has burden of: 1)False
& 2)Reckless(public)=damages presumed. Or
Neg falseness(private)=damages must be proved.
Defenses
1)Consentàdefense
to all 4
2)Privilege for
False Light & DisclosureàAbsolute
& qualified
Negligence(17Qs
so here it is) 1)Duty; 2)Breach; 3)Causation;
4)Damages
Duty
Forsbl Ps=(Cardozo’s
zone of danger). Rescuer always forsbl & their
neg(not recklessness).
Rsbl person=only
subj factors=superior knowledge/physical
attributes(disability{not
mental}/tall/strong)
Kids
(Subj Standard)(< 4 no); Adult Activity=then Obj
Rsbl person standard(cars/tractors/guns).
Professionals
(Rsbl pro){Drs=Empirical/Fact standard what
local Drs do; Specialist national standard}.
Owners/Occupiers=P
off prop=Rsbl person standard. Activities on
land (Rsbl care except Trespasser).
Static Conditions
depend P’s Status: {Open & Obvious condition
then no recovery.}
Undiscovered
Trespasser=NO Duty.
Known/Anticipate
Trespasser=Warn/Protect: 1)Artificial;
2)Dangerous; 3)Latent; 4)Known.
Licensee{guests}=Warn/Protect:
1)Latent; 2)Known.
Invitee{to public
at large}=Warn/Protect: 1)Concealed; 2)Knows
or should know{Inspect}.
Infant
Trespassers/Attractive Nuisance=1)Dangerous
condition; 2)Should anticipate Kids trespass;
3)Risk Hi; 4)Expense to cure is low compared to
risk. (Usually warn so kid appreciates
danger)(No requirement that kid hurt by
attractive thing).
Stts
(Neg per se)=1)Penal; 2)Class protected;
3)To prevent Risk/Harm that occurred; (Cause).
(Not administrative). Except: Comply more
dangerous than violate{over yellow line}/impossible
under circs{heart atk through red light}.
Duty to
Act/Rescue=
Generally no duty to Rescue. Except: 1)D
put in peril; 2)Relationship(any family, common
carriers/innkeepers, invitees, created
relationship).
Negligent
Infliction ED=1)D
exposed P to risk of physical harm (zone of
danger/near miss/{airplane driven toward
ground});
2)Physical Manifestation of distress(Except:
family member dead/mishandling of corpse).
Bystander
Distress=from
above.
Breach(P alleges neg D’s conduct)
Res Ipsa Loquitor=1)Ordinarily
b/c neg; 2)Instrumentality in D’s control; 3)Not
P’s or other’s neg. (Airplane
disasters/Elevator&Escalators).
Causation
Factual Cause=“But
for” replaced by “Substantial factor.”
{Multiple polluters w/mingled cause}. Multiple
possible but only 1 cause=Summers v. Tice=guilty(no
burden proof on P) & D burden to show didn’t do
it(Joint&Several).
Legal
Cause/Proximate=Forseeability:
Direct=liable. Indirect cause=Intervening cause
not foreseeable? Superseding. E.g. Liable
Despite Intervening(unless reckless): neg med;
neg rescue; neg protection/reaction
forces{stampeding pedestrians}; subsequent
disease or accident. Look at conduct & look at
outcome=frsbl conduct then liable.
Damages
Eggshell Skull=Take
P as find him. No defense P
hypersensitive/predisposed. All Tortsàprop
& personal injury! But only after satisfy other
elements. E.g. NO battery for tapping on
shoulder&explodes, but if spit on him &
dies=liable.
D’s Duty to
Mitigate;
Colateral Source Rule.
Defenses
Contributory Neg(C/L)=P’s
neg bars recovery.
Implied
Assumption of Risk(C/L)=Implied
Consent: 1)Knew of risk; 2)Voluntarily chose to
encounter it.
Comparative Neg(Default)=
Pure: %. Modified: where P >50% get nothing.
Remember Counterclaims& offsets.
Strict Liability
Wild Animals=elephants,
lions, tigers, bears. Domestic Animals=horses,
sheep, cows, cats, dogs(unless bitten someone or
is attack dog. 1st bite on neg
theory). Strictly liable cattle trespasses(not
cats & dogs).
Ultra Hazardous
Activities/Substances=1)Can’t
be done w/o risk; 2)Risk is of great damage;
3)Uncommon in area. (Blasting, explosives, toxic
chemicals, radiation, nuclear, etc).
Causation. S/L regardless of safety
precautions.
S/P/L=unrsbly
dangerous(more than consumer expect). (Neg=Rsbl
inspect{can’t win if latent}. Intent=reckless
bat).
1)Business of
Selling(commercial lessors{Hertz/Avis})( No
Privity);
2)Defective=*Mfg
Defect; *Design Defect(Alternative design safer
w/o serious impact on cost or utility);
[Warning
Defect(really design defect)(may not be enough
if better physical design){flammable pajamas}].
3)When
Sold(Defect Existed)(Presumed if through normal
channels, burden on D);
4)Frsbl
Use/Misuse.
Defense=NO
Contrib Neg; Assumption of Risk=(Consent:
1)Knows risk; 2)Voluntarily encounters
it){Lawnmower warning “warm up b/c of
vibration”: reads & hurt exactly as they say;
not read then recover b/c just Contrib Neg}.
Warranties=merchantability & fitness for
particular purpose=no
privity. Purley economic losses
recoverable.
Nuisance=unrsbly(balance),
substantially interfere w/use&enjoyment of land.
Publicàstanding
if different harm. Rsbl self help privilege.
Vicarious
Liability=
1)Respondeat
Superior=Generally
liability if in scope of employment(Intentional
Torts usually not in scope unless: Job involves
force{bouncer/security guard}); Friction{bill
collector, etc}; Intentional Torts that serve
master’s services{truck driver steals gas}.
2)Independent
Contractors=Generally
no vicarious liability. Non delegable duty(of
care to invitees{painter drop bucket on person})
or Hazardous activity.
3)Negligent
Hiring!
4)Children=Generally
not vicariously liable for intentional torts,
But Neg supervision! Rsbl parent know &
prevent.
5)Negligent
Entrustment=give
to drunk person or someone you know is
unsafe(really direct negligence).
6)Owner & Driver=Generally
no vicarious liability. If running errand for
me then Master/Servant relationship.
7)Partnership
/Concert of Action
= joint & several
Joint & Several
Liability & Contribution & IndemnityèReconciliation
Multiple Ds=P sues 1 D.
Contribution
for pro rata equal fractional shares. If all Ds
are active equal tortfeasors.
Comparative
Contribution=%
instead of pro rata.
Indemnification=1D
less culpable then other, get all $ from the
culpable one. {e.g. Respondeat Superior}
Immunities
Governmental=immune
when discretionary decision making{complain to
police, etc}. No immunity if proprietary/commercial{parking
lot} or routine mechanical functions{police car
runs red light}.
Husband/Wife/Parent/Child/Family=abolished
in maj states.
Charity=abolished{drunken
nun is liable}.
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