Professional Documents
Culture Documents
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David A. Logan
Roger Williams University
Ralph R. Papitto
School of Law
Wayne A. Logan
William Mitchell
College of Law
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Copyright 2004
David A. Logan
Wayne A. Logan
All Rights Reserved
ISBN 0-89089-847-2
LCCN 2003115021
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Contents
Preface
Acknowledgments
Part I
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Chapter 1 Duty
1.10 Duty
1.20 Misfeasance and Nonfeasance
[1] Special Applications of the Misfeasance Rule
[a] Negligent Entrustment of Chattel
[b] Negligent Entrustment and Alcohol
[c] Spoliation of Evidence
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Chapter 7 Causation
7.10 Causation-Generally
7.20 Cause-in-Fact
[1] Unidentifiable Cause
[2] Unidentifiable Defendant
[3] Evidentiary Challenges to Exp ert Testimony on Cause-in-Fact
7.30 Legal Cause
[1] Unforeseeable Results
[2] Intervening Acts
[3] The Rescue Doctrine
[4] Act of God
[5] Subsequent Medical Malpractice
[6] Eggshell Plaintiffs
[7] Plaintiff s Unusual Reaction
[8] Statutory Violations
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Chapter 8 Damages
8.10 Introduction
8.20 Compensatory Damages
[1] General and Special Damages
[2] Pecuniary and Nonpecuniary Damages
[a] Medical Expenses
[b] Lost Wages and Loss of Capacity to Earn
[c] Harm to Property
[d] Pain and Suffering
[e] Consortium
[f] Hedonic Damages
[g] Scars and Disfigurement
[h] Permanent Injury
[2] Wrongful Death
[3] The Bases for Damage Amounts
[a] Stipulation
[b] Witnesses
[4] Special Pleading Requirements
[5] Mitigation of Damages
[6] The Collateral Source Rule
[7] Contribution and Indemnity
8.30 Nominal Damages
8.40 Punitive Damages
[1] North Carolina Law
[2] Federal Constitutional Law
[3] General Observations
8.50 Statutory Penalties
8.60 Improper Damage Awards Remittitur and Additur
8.70 Attorneys Fees
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Chapter 9 Defenses
9.10 Defenses
9.20 Contributory Negligence
[1] Last Clear Chance
[2] Imputed Contributory Negligence
9.30 Assumption of the Risk
9.40 Waiver and Release
9.50 Claim and Issue Preclusion
9.60 Time Bars: Statutes of Limitation and Repose
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Part II
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Part III
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Intentional Torts
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[5] Causation
[6] Proof Requirements
[7] Damages
[8] Suits Against Family Members
[9] Defenses
20.40 The Heart Balm Torts Compared
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Chapter 22 Privileges
22.10 Introduction
22.20 Consent
22.30 Self-Defense
22.40 Defense of Others
22.50 Defense of Property
22.60 Authority of Law
22.70 Necessity
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Part IV
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Communicative Torts
Chapter 23 Defamation
23.10 Introduction
23.20 The Common Law
[1] Publication
[2] Of and Concerning the Plaintiff
[3] Defamatory Statement
[4] Libel, Slander, and Related Questions
[a] Libel Per Se
[b] Libel Per Quod
[c] Slander Per Se
[d] Slander Per Quod
[5] Damages
[a] General or Presumed Damages
[b] Special Damages
[c] Compensatory Damages
[d] Punitive Damages
[e] Statutory Pleading Requirements for
the Recovery of Certain Types of Damages
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[6] Defenses
[a] Truth
[b] Statute of Limitations
[c] Privileges
[i] Absolute Privileges
[ii] Qualified or Conditional Privileges
[iii] Special Privileges
[7] Failure to Plead with Particularity
[8] Joint Liability
23.30 The Constitutional Dimension
[1] Introduction
[2] Who Is a Public Plaintiff?
[3] What Is a Matter of Public Concern?
[4] Constitutional Fault Requirements
[5] Constitutional Procedural Protections
[6] Constitutional Damages Requirements
[7] No Special Constitutional Protections for Statements of Opinion
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Part V
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[2] Knowledge
[3] Intentional Inducement
[4] Without Justification
[5] Actual Pecuniary Harm
[6] Statute of Limitations
25.50 Tortious Interference with Prospective Advantage
25.60 Negligent Interference with Prospective Advantage
25.70 Tortious Breach of Contract
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Property Torts
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[7] Defenses
[8] Statutory Changes to the Common Law
29.20 Trespass to Chattels
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Table of Cases
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Index
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Preface
This, the second edition of North Carolina Torts, maintains the same functional approach adopted in the predecessor volume, with emphasis on personal injury actions as
well as those seeking recovery for damage to reputation, property, and business interests. Further, in an effort to illuminate the current contours of North Carolina law, and,
perhaps as important, indicate where it might be headed, the discussion liberally draws
upon case law from other jurisdictions and secondary sources. This in-depth coverage is
especially evident in discussions of professional malpractice, products liability, defamation, and the evolving state and national movements toward tort reform. Moreover, as
before, to better serve the needs of bench and bar we survey subjects of a statutory nature that frequently intersect with the traditional common law of torts, such as Section
1983, RICO, and Unfair Trade Practices, complex subjects that are otherwise explored
in stand-alone treatises.
This second edition also maintains the organizational approach of its predecessor.
Rather than commencing with intentional torts, the negligence cause of action serves as
the starting point. This was done was done for two reasons. First, many of the principles associated with negligence, like causation, breach of duty, damages, and respondeat
superior, are equally central to more specialized torts, like professional malpractice and
products liability. Second, negligence-based claims by far predominate in tort litigation,
are more costly to defend, and are more complex in their nature.
Since the publication of the first edition in 1996, tort law has experienced significant
change, reflecting the influence of the dynamic range of social, economic, and political
factors that have always affected torts. This new edition discusses the important judicial
and legislative developments over the past seven years, including major changes in
premises and governmental liability, as well as products liability and damages.
We are gratified over the positive reception given North Carolina Torts by the bench
and bar and hope that this new edition will continue to serve as a valuable resource.
June 2003
David A. Logan
Wayne A. Logan
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Acknowledgments
We wish to extend our thanks to a number of people who provided invaluable help
in the preparation of this second edition of North Carolina Torts. For research assistance, we thank Abby Brown, Shaka Mitchell and Alex Ryan; for clerical and editorial
expertise, Brenda Sargent and Meg Daniel; and for financial and logistic support Deans
Robert Walsh (Wake Forest) and Harry Haynsworth (William Mitchell).
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