1、Tort Law第1页GeneralTortlacivilwrongwhichunfairlycausessomeoneelsetosufferlossorharmItdoesnotincludebreachofcontractortrust.(Acivilwrongcanbeatort,breachofcontractorbreachoftrust.)Purposeoftortlawltoproviderelieftotheinjuredpartythroughtheawardofdamagesfortheinjuriesincurredduringatortiousact第2页Genera
2、lltodeterothersfromcommittingthesameactUStortlawlTortlawintheU.S.islargelycommonlaw.Courtshavethepowertoshapeandchangetheelementsofclaimsanddefensesofexistingtortsandthepowertocreatenewtorts.lStatuteshavebeenpassedinattemptstoreformthetortsystem.第3页GeneralMostofthemhaverelatedtoproceduralmattersanda
3、mountsandcategoriesofdamages.lManyjudgesutilizetheRestatement of Torts(2nd)asaninfluentialguide.TheRestatementisaninfluentialtreatiseissuedbytheAmericanLawInstitute,whichsummarizesthegeneralprinciplesofcommonlawUnitedStatestortlaw.Categoriesoftortslintentionaltorts第4页Generallnegligencelstrictliabili
4、tytorts第5页Intentional Torts第6页GeneralDefinitionlAnintentionaltortisatortresultingfromanintentionalactonthepartofthetortfeasor.Subcategoriesltortsagainstthepersonassaultbatteryfalseimprisonmentintentionalinflictionofemotionaldistress第7页Generallpropertytortstrespasstolandtrespasstochattels(personalpro
5、perty)conversionldignitarytortsdefamationinvasionofprivacy 第8页TortsAgainstthePerson第9页AssaultDefinitionlanintentionalactthatcausesanapprehensionofimmediateharmfuloroffensivecontactApprehensionisnotthesameasfearhereitmeansawarenessthataninjuryoroffensivecontactisimminent.RequirementslTheactmustbeover
6、t.Merewordsdonotconstituteanassault.第10页AssaultTheremustbeanaccompanyingact.lThedefendantmusthavetheapparentabilitytocarryoutthecontact.Actualabilitytocarryoutthecontactisnotnecessary.lTheplaintiffmusthaveareasonableapprehensionofsuchcontact.Actualfearontheplaintiffspartisnotrequired.Examples第11页Ass
7、aultlswingingabaseballbatatsomeonelholdingarockandthreateningtothrowitatsomeonelpointingagunatsomeonelpointingarealistictoygunatsomeoneCriminalassaultandtortiousassaultlCriminalassaultcanoccurevenwhennothreatisperceivedbythevictim.lWiththetortofassault,aperceivedthreatbythevictimisparamount.第12页Assa
8、ultAdefendantwhothrowsarockatasleepingvictimandmissescanonlybeguiltyoftheattemptedbatteryassault,sincethevictimwouldnotbeawareofthepossibleharm.第13页BatteryDefinitionlanintentionalactthatcausesaharmfuloroffensivecontactHarmfulcontactlcontactthatobjectivelyintendstoinjure,disfigure,impair,orcausepainO
9、ffensivecontactlcontactthatwouldoffendapersonssenseofpersonaldignity第14页BatteryExampleslbeatingsomeonewithatireironlspittinginsomeonesfacelknockingahatoffsomeonesheadlwhippingahorseonwhichsomeonewasriding,causinghimtofallandbeinjuredlmixingsomethingoffensiveinfoodthatheknowsanotherwilleattheotherdoe
10、sinfacteattheoffensivematter第15页BatteryldiggingapitwiththeintentthatanotherwillfallintoitlatertheotherdoesinfactfallintoitCriminalandtortiousbatterylUsuallybatteryisprosecutedasacrimeonlyincasesinvolvingseriousharmtothevictim.Criminallawrecognizesdegreesofcrimesinvolvingphysicalcontact.Thereisbutasi
11、ngletortofbattery.第16页False ImprisonmentDefinitionlthedetentionofapersoninaboundedareawithoutjustificationorconsentTheessenceofthetortisthenaturalmentalharmthatresultswhenonesfreedomisrestrictedwithoutjustification.Elementslintenttoconfineapersonwithinacertainarea第17页False Imprisonmentlactualconfine
12、mentlawarenessoftheconfinementbythepersonsoconfinedlnoreasonablemeansofescapeFalsearrestlFalsearrestoccurswhensomeonearrestsanotherindividualwithoutthelegalauthoritytodoso,whichbecomesfalseimprisonmentthemomentheorsheistakenintocustody.第18页IIEDDefinitionshortforintentional infliction of emotional di
13、stressreferredtoasthe tort of outrageinsomejurisdictionslintentionalconductthatresultsinextremeemotionaldistressElementslThedefendantmustactintentionallyorrecklessly.第19页IIEDlThedefendantsconductmustbeextremeandoutrageous.lTheconductmustcausetheplaintifftosuffersevereemotionaldistress.Severeemotiona
14、ldistresslThistortinvolvesmorethanhurtfeelings,disappointment,orworry.lTheremustbeseverementalsuffering,i.e.suchthatnoreasonablepersonshouldbeexpectedtoendureit.第20页IIEDThisstandardisquantifiedbytheintensity,duration,andanyphysicalmanifestations(ulcersorheadaches,forexample)ofthedistress.ExampleslAp
15、ersonrefusedtoinformanotherofthewhereaboutsofthatotherschildforseveralyears,thoughthepersonknewwherethechildwastheentiretime.第21页IIEDlApersonsentalettertoanotherfalselyinforminghimthataclosefamilymemberofhishadbeenkilledinanaccident.第22页Statute of LimitationsDefinitionlanenactmentthatrestrictsthetim
16、ewithinwhichlegalproceedingsmaybeinitiatedObjectiveltopreventclaimsfromarisingafterallevidencehasbeenlostorafterthefactshavebecomeobscurethroughthepassageoftime,orthedeathordisappearanceofwitnesses第23页Statute of LimitationsFunctionlThestatuteoflimitationsisadefensethatisordinarilyassertedbythedefend
17、anttodefeatanactionbroughtagainsthimaftertheappropriatetimehaselapsed.ApplicationlThedefendantmustraisethedefensebeforethecourtuponansweringtheplaintiffscomplaint.第24页Statute of LimitationslIfnot,heisregardedashavingwaivedthedefenseandwillnotbepermittedtouseitinanysubsequentproceedings.Tollingthesta
18、tutelWhenthestatuteistolled,therunningoflimitationsissuspendeduntilsomeeventspecifiedbylawtakesplace.Mostjurisdictionsprovidethatthestatuteoflimitationsistolledundercertaincircumstances:第25页Statute of LimitationsTheplaintiffisaminor.Theplaintiffhasbeendeemedinsane.Theplaintiffhasbeenconvictedofafelo
19、nyandisimprisoned.Thedefendantisinbankruptcy.第26页Shopkeepers PrivilegeGenerallInsomejurisdictionsoftheUS,thecourtsrecognizeacommonlawshopkeepersprivilege,underwhichashopkeeperisallowedtodetainasuspectedshoplifteronstorepropertyforareasonableperiodoftime,solongastheshopkeeperhasprobablecausetobelieve
20、thatthepersondetainedinfactcommitted,orattemptedtocommit,theftofstoreproperty.第27页Shopkeepers PrivilegeThisprivilegedoesnotincludethepowerofsearch.RequisiteconditionslInvestigationonornearpremisesThedetentionitselfshouldbeeffectedeitheronthestorepremisesorintheimmediatevicinitythereof.lReasonablesus
21、picionTheshopkeeperhasreasonablegroundstosuspecttheparticularpersondetainedisshoplifting.第28页Shopkeepers PrivilegelReasonableforceonlyOnlyreasonable,non-deadlyforceisusedtoeffectthedetention.lReasonableperiodandmannerofdetentionThedetentionitselfmaybeforonlythetimenecessarytomakeareasonableinvestiga
22、tionofthefacts.第29页PropertyTorts第30页Trespass to LandGenerallTrespasstolandoccurswhenapersondirectlyentersuponanotherslandwithoutpermission,orremainsupontheland,orplacesorprojectsanyobjectupontheland.lThebasisforthistortistherighttoexclusivepossessionoftheland.NaturelThistortisactionable per se.第31页T
23、respass to LandDamagesarenotrequiredtobeprovenforintentionaltrespass.Onlywhentheentryisnegligentisthereanyneedtoprovedamages.IntentlTheintentrequirementoftrespassisonlythatthepersonintendedtoentertheproperty.Itisirrelevantwhetherornottheentryisamistake,causedbyignoranceoftheownershiportheboundaries.
24、第32页Trespass to LandNotelTherightsinherentinthepossessionoflandextendaboveandbelowthesurface.第33页Trespass to ChattelsDefinitionltheintentionalinterferencewithanotherpersonslawfulpossessionofachattel(movablepersonalproperty)Interferencelanyphysicalcontact(intermeddling)withthechattelinaquantifiablewa
25、ylanydispossessionofthechattel(whetherbytakingit,destroyingit,orbarringtheownersaccesstoit)第34页Trespass to ChattelsNotelIncasesofintermeddling,thereneedstobeactualharmsustainedbytheplaintiffinorderforhimtosue.Damagesarelimitedtotheactualharm(whichcanincludeeconomiclossasaresultofthetrespasse.g.losso
26、fprofitonadamagedchattel).lIncasesofdispossession,theplaintiffisalwaysentitledtodamagesevenifnoquantifiableharmcanbeproven.第35页Trespass to ChattelsExamplelHermanseeshisWar and Peacesittingonatable.Hepicksupthebook,putsitinhisbagandgoeshome.Infact,thebookbelongstoLeonandHermanhasmistakenitforhisownco
27、py.lInthiscase,HermanisliableforatrespasstochattelsbecauseheintendedtotakeLeonsbook,eventhoughhisactionwasbasedonareasonablemistake.第36页ConversionGenerallConversionoccurswhensomeonewrongfullytakesorusespropertyofanotherfortheirownpurposesordestroysitoraltersitsnature.ConversionandtheftlTheftwillalso
28、beconversion.lButnotallconversionsaretheftsbecauseconversionrequiresnoelementofdishonesty.第37页ConversionPropertysubjecttoconversionlItmustbepersonalproperty.Realpropertycannotbelostandthenfound.lItmustbetangible.money,ananimal,furniture,ortoolscropsortimber(aftertheyareseveredfromtheground)rightsina
29、paper,suchasalifeinsurancepolicy,astockcertificate,orapromissorynote第38页ConversionExampleslApersonhasanotherscartowedawayinordertotaketheparkingplace.lAdrycleanermistakenlydeliversasuittothewrongcustomer.lAmechanicborrowsasportscarheissupposedtorepairwithoutpermission.lAneighborlendsherhedgetrimmert
30、oafriend,butthefriendusesittocutdownatree.第39页Trespass to Chattels and ConversionGenerallThetwoconceptsarecloselyrelated.SimilaritylBothincludethewrongful,intentionalinterferenceofpersonalproperty.DifferencelTheyaredifferentindegreethedamagedonetotheplaintiffspossessioninaconversioncaseismoreseveret
31、haninatrespasscase.第40页Trespass to Chattels and ConversionApplicationlIngeneral,whenanobjectisdamagedbutrepairable,trespasstochattelsisthemoreappropriatetort.Whensomethingisdestroyedorstolen,conversionismoreappropriate.lWhentrespassisfound,apersoncanrecoverthevalueofthelostuseoftheitemandrecoverthei
32、temitself.Conversion,instead,allowsapersontorecoverthefullvalueoftheitem.第41页Trespass to Chattels and ConversionExamplelDaphnehitsMartysdogwithhercar.Thedogsuffersabrokenleg.ThiswouldbeanactionabletrespasstochattelsandMartywouldbeawardeddamagescommensuratewiththeharmdonebyDaphne.lDaphnehitsMartysdog
33、withhercar.Thedogdies.Thiswouldbeanactionableconversion.Martywouldbeawardedthedogsfullvalue.第42页DignitaryTorts第43页DefamationDefinitionlthecommunicationofafalsestatementthatharmsapersonsreputationDefamatoryinformationmustbecommunicatedtoathirdperson.Typeslslanderoraldefamation(spokenstatements)llibel
34、writtendefamation(written,printedorbroadcastwords)第44页DefamationPublicfigurelawofdefamationlApublicfigurealleginglibelmustproveactualmalice.Publicfiguresvoluntarilyplacethemselvesinapositionthatinvitesclosescrutiny.Defamationper selSomecategoriesofstatementsareconsidereddefamatoryper seinjuryispresu
35、medandneedntbeproven.第45页Defamationastatementthatnegativelyaffectsapersonsreputationrelatingtohisbusinessorprofessionallegationsthatapersonisunchasteallegationsthatapersonisinfectedwithasexuallytransmitteddiseaseallegationsthatapersonhascommittedacrimeofmoralturpitude(suchasrapeorincest)Defensestocl
36、aimsofdefamationltruth第46页Defamationlopinionlprivilegeevidencegivenincourtstatementsmadeinasessionofthelegislature第47页Invasion of PrivacyDefinitionltheintrusionintothepersonallifeofanother,withoutjustcauseCategorieslintrusionofsolitudeactualphysicalorelectronicintrusionintoapersonsprivatequartersApe
37、rsonwasundressingathome,andsomeonefilmedthiswithouttellingtheperson.第48页Invasion of PrivacylpublicdisclosureofprivatefactsthedisseminationoftruthfulprivateinformationwhichareasonablepersonwouldfindobjectionableAnunscrupulousreporterrummagedthroughapublicfiguresgarbagetofindevidenceofprescriptiondrug
38、useorotherhighlypersonalmatters.lfalselightthepublicationoffactswhichplaceapersoninafalselight,eventhoughthefactsthemselvesmaynotbedefamatory第49页Invasion of PrivacyFalselightcasesareaboutdamagetoapersonspersonalfeelingsordignity,whereasdefamationisaboutdamagetoapersonsreputation.Areporterreturnedtot
39、hesceneofamassivebridgecollapseseveralyearsafterthetragedy.Thereporterattemptedtointerviewthewidowofamanwhodiedinthecrash.Thewidowandherchildrenwerenotathomesothereporterfabricatedastoryaboutthemwhichplacedtheminafalselightinthepubliceye.第50页Invasion of Privacylappropriationtheunauthorizeduseofapers
40、onsnameorlikenesstoobtainsomebenefitsAlocalrestaurantusedacelebritysnameorimageinacommercialandimpliedanofficialendorsement.第51页Negligence第52页GeneralDefinitionlconductthatbreachesastandardofcaredeemedbythelawasnecessarytoprotectothersfromunreasonablerisksofharmgenerallyexpressedasabreachofadutyEleme
41、ntslThedefendantowedadutyofcaretotheplaintiff;第53页Generallthedefendantbreachedthatduty;andlasaresultofthedefendantsbreachofthatduty,theplaintiffsufferedinjury.第54页Standard of CareGenerallAllpeopleareunderadutytoconductthemselvesinsuchamannerasnottocreateunreasonablerisksofphysicalharmtoothers.lDurin
42、gatrial,theconductofthedefendantisreviewedtodetermineifheorshehasmetthereasonablepersonstandard.Wouldareasonablepersonhaveactedsimilarlyundersimilarcircumstances?第55页Standard of CareReasonablepersonlahypotheticalpersoninsocietywhoshowsaveragecare,skillorjudgmentinconductItisnotanaverageortypicalpers
43、on.Itisacompositeofacommunitysjudgmentastohowatypicalmemberofthatcommunityshouldbehaveinsituationsthatmightposeathreatofharmtothepublic.第56页Standard of CareEventhoughthemajorityofpeopleinthecommunitymaybehaveinacertainway,thatdoesnotestablishthestandardofconductofthereasonableperson.Reasonableperson
44、standardlApersonhasactednegligentlyifshehasdepartedfromconductexpectedofareasonablyprudentpersonactingundersimilarcircumstances.第57页Standard of CareItisacompletelyobjectivetestunderwhichsubjectiveelementsarenormallynottakenintoaccount.Subjectivetraitsofthetortfeasormaybeconsidered,buttheyareconsider
45、edaccordingtoanobjectivestandard.第58页CausationGenerallToestablishcausationinnegligencecasestheplaintiffmustprovethatthedefendantsactwasboththecause-in-factandtheproximatecauseofhisinjuries.Cause-in-factlThebut-fortestWouldtheplaintiffhavebeeninjuredbutfortheactofthedefendant?第59页CausationlThesubstan
46、tialfactortestWasthedefendantsactionasubstantialfactorincausingtheplaintiffsinjury?ProximatecauselThedirectnesstestThedefendantsactistheproximatecauseoftheplaintiffsinjuryifthereisanunbrokensequenceofeventsbetweentheactandtheharm.lTheforeseeabilitytest第60页CausationItissufficientifareasonablepersonwo
47、uldhaveforeseentheharmfulresults.InterveningcauselaneventwhichoccursafterthedefendantsnegligentacthasoccurredandwhichcontributestotheinjuryIftheinterveningcausewastheproximatecauseoftheplaintiffsinjury,thedefendantsactwillnotbeconsideredtheproximatecause.第61页CausationIftheinterveningcausewasforeseea
48、ble,thedefendantwilloftenbeheldliableforthisadditionalharm.第62页NIEDGenerallshortfornegligentinflictionofemotionaldistresslacontroversialcauseofactionlavailableinnearlyallUSstatesbutseverelyconstrainedandlimitedinthemajorityofthemNIEDandIIEDlInanactionforNIEDthereisnoneedtoproveintenttoinflictdistres
49、s.第63页NIEDlAnaccidentalinfliction,ifnegligent,issufficienttosupportacauseofaction.UnderlyingconceptlOnehasalegaldutytousereasonablecaretoavoidcausingmentaldistresstoanotherindividual.lIfonebreachesthisdutyandunreasonablycausesmentaldistresstoanotherindividual,hewillbeliablefordamagestotheinjuredindi
50、vidual.第64页Contributory NegligenceDefinitionladefensethatbarsaplaintifffromrecoveryifhisorherownactsoromissionscontributetotheinjuryBurdenofprooflInsomejurisdictions,thedefendanthastoprovethenegligenceoftheplaintifforclaimant.lInothers,theburdenisontheplaintifftodisprovehisownnegligence.第65页Contribu
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