Torts Checklist

Negligence Prima Facie Case

Duty
Dutynottocreateunreasonableriskofharm
Moredifficulttoshowdutiestoactwhennotcauseofsituation
Specialrelationships,etc.
Breach of duty, Negligence
ReasonablePersonStandard
Severalfactorsexisttohelpdefine
Handtest
ReverseHandtest(strictliabilitywithnegligencedefenses)
CalabresiHirschofftest
Negligenceperse
Custom
Statutes
Actual causation
Butfortest
Notveryrestrictive
Proximate Causation
Foreseeability
Cardozo
Legalquestion
Eachmustbeforeseeable
Andrews
Factualquestion
Ifanyinjuryisforeseeable,thenrecoversubjecttolimitationsofjury
No Defenses
Duty
Historical perspective - Laissez Faire + special relationships
Physical injuries
Control(overtheagencyofharm)
Foreseeability(thatonesactionswouldcauseharm)
Assumptionofdutytotheexclusionofothers
Specialrelationships
Companions,family,etc.
Commoncarrierandinnkeeper
Businessrelationship

Modernextensions
Thirdpartyspecialrelationship,Tarasoff
Negligententrustment,Vincev.Wilson
E.g.givingdrunkpersonkeystocar

Landownerliabilities
TrespassersPersononpropertywithoutknowledgeorpermissionofowner
Childrenareowedgreaterdutyincaseofattractivedangers
Mustwarnofseriousrisks
LicenseesOnpropertythroughinvitationbuttonobenefitofowner
Mustwarnofanyknownrisk
Neednotsearchoutrisks
InviteesPresentonlandtobenefitofowner
Dutytosearchoutandprotectagainstdangers
Modernextensions
Attractivenuisancechildren
Technicaltrespassunmarkedprivatelandwithhigherdutythannormal
Constructiveconsenttopresenceonland
Hinescase,ifwouldhaveoccurredtoothercategoryofpersonwouldbenegligence,thendutytotrespasseras
well.
Rowlandv.Christianreasonablenessrule
Dutyofreasonablenessunderthecircumstances,considering:
Oldversionstatus
Foreseeabilityofharm
Moralblameworthiness
Availabilityofinsurance

CostbenefitequationshouldbeusedalongwithRowlandrule,Ericksonv.Curtis

Coasetheorem
Governmentalliabilities

TraditionalKingcandonowrong,11thAmendment
Onlybarsdamageactionsinjunctivereliefisunfettered
42USC1983
Permitslawsuitsagainststateandlocalofficialsinfedcts
MustbeFederalorConstitutionaltort
Whileofficialsmaydefendwithgoodfaithimmunity,municipalgov'tmaynot,Owenv.CityofIndependence

Limitsto1983
Norespondeatsuperiorexceptwhenliableactionwasinfurtheranceofanofficialpolicyorcustom(Onlywaytogetstate
gov.)
mustshowstandingharmexiststoberedressed
Nopunitiveorpresumeddamages,mustbeactualdamages
Mustbemisfeasance,can'tbenonfeasance,DeShanycase
Immunities,affirmativedefenses
Judicialorprosecutorialact
Beuractratic,executiveandadministrativefunctionscarriedoutingoodfaithwhileactingincompliancewithfederal
law

FederalTortClaimsAct
Waivesimmunityforfederalgovernment,federalofficials
Limitations

Mustbeatortunderstatelaw
Intentionaltortsarenotactionable
Unlesscommittedbylawenforcementofficials.
Actionableunderothertheorieslikenegligententrustment,etc.
Noactionsallowedunderstrictliability
Nojury
Nopunitivedamages
Nofeeshifting
Limitonsattorneyfees

Affirmativedefenses
Discretionaryfunctionisimmuneevenifitwasabuse,Berkovitz
Themorenarrowlydefinedtheactivity,thelessdiscretionaryitis

Distinctfromministerialfunctions
IntramilitarytortsFeresnoliability
Governmentcontractors,Stencel,Boyle
Mustbeproducedtogovernmentspecifications
Productspecsmustconformtogovernmentspecifications
Contractormusthaveinformedgovernmentofanyknownrisks

BivensActions
Certainconstitutionalviolationsyieldtosuitagainstfedofficialsinfedct
4th,5th,8thamendments

Officialshavesamecommonlawimmunitiesasunder1983
Cangetjury,punitivedamages,presumeddamages

Non-physical injuries
Emotionalharm
Direct
Commonlawnodamages
Impacttestpoorbecauseeasytomanipulate
Physicalmanifestation+foreseeabilityabandoned
Pureemotionaldistress
Exposurephobia
Unpredictabledamages
Requirements
Seriousfear
Reasonablefear
Causeinfact
Somejurisdictionsrequire

Lesion
Onlyexposure
Manifestationofconditionitself

Oftenannexedtomedicalmonitoringclaim
Can'tsuetwiceforsameinjurysinglejudgmentrule
Somejurisdictionsallowforsecondactionafterdiseasemanifestsitself

Proximatecausationlimitsliabilitytoforeseeability

Indirect

Traditionalrulenorecovery
Foreseeability,Huggins
ZoneofDanger,Tobinv.Grossman
Mustbewithinzoneofdanger
Musthavecontemporaneousawareness
Harmmusthavebeenserious
Mustbecloserelative
Mustshowseriousemotionalharm
Modernrequirements,Dillonv.Portee
Closelyrelatedtoinjured
Physicalproximityandcontemporaneousobservance
Extraordinaryemotionaldistress

Wrongfulbirth,etc.
WrongfulbirthActionbyparentswhoallegethattheycouldhaveavoidedconceptionorwouldhave
abortedbutforthenegligenceofthephysician
a.Ctsunsympatheticforhealthybabies
b.Unhealthybabiesyielddamagesfurtherintolife
5.Birthrelatedexpensesareusuallyrecoverable
6.Childrearingcostsareusuallynotrecoverable
7.Parentsoftengetemotionaldamages

WrongfullifeSuitbybabyfornegligentlycausedbirthyieldingpainfullife
Theoreticaldefenses
Havetoabort
Childhavetobeadopted
Childhavetobeputintostatehospital
Havetocommitsuicideinwrongfullife

WrongfullivingSuitfornotallowingpatienttodie
Extrahospitalexpensesarecompensable

Pureeconomicloss
Distinguishingfactorsbetweencasesmorelikelytowinif:
Definiteharmto
Smallnumberofpotentials
didnotpurposefullyreducerelianceonproduct
cancontrolextentofliabilityexposure
knewofreliance(canbeinferredtobetruethroughprice)
haspaidforbenefitofrelyingonthroughchainofthirdparty
Fiduciaryobligation,Bohnv.Cody

Foreseeabilitythatthirdpartywouldrelyoninfoprovidediskeytoliability
Discussrelativeutilityofusingcontractsortortstoassignliability
Breach of duty - Negligence
Definitions of negligence (Reasonable person standard)
Handtest
IfB<PLthen,injurerpays(definitionallyworthpreventing)
ReverseHandtest(strictliabilitywithpossibilityofdefeatingnegligence)
Injurerpaysforaccidentsworthpreventingandthosenotworthpreventing
CalabresiHirschofftest
WhoeverknowsmoreaboutB>PLisliable
Negligenceperse
Statutoryevidence
GeneralConductrules,Violationdoesnotyieldnegligenceperse
SafeguardrulesViolationsmayallownegligenceperse,onlysupposition

Custom
Thecustommusthaveacausalrelationshiptotheinjury,Levinev.RusselBlaineco.
Statutes
Statutemustbedirectedatharmtoberelevant,DeHaenv.Rockwood
Fourpossibleweightgiventostatutes
Negligenceperse,Martinv.Herzog
Primafacieevidence
Evidencetowardnegligence
Noevidence,Brownv.Shyne
Factorsthatdeterminewhatweightshouldbegiven
Correlationbetweenviolationofthestatuteandtheinjury
Legislativemandatemorecompellingthanadministrativeruling
Causation
Intentoflegislature

Interactionofcommonlawandstatutes

StatutecodifiescommonlawSetscommonlawdownwithcommonlawexceptions
StatutesupplantscommonlawSetscommonlawdownwithoutcommonlawexceptions
StatutederogatescommonlawReplacescommonlawwithstatute

Proving negligence - standards of proof

Burdenofgoingforward&burdenofproof
Constructiveandactualnoticeofdangercreated
Inference,presumptionandestablishedfact
Ordinaryandopinionevidence
Directandcircumstantialevidence
ResIpsaLoquitor(thethingspeaksforitself)
Appropriateforsituationinwhichthereisnoattainableproofofnegligence

Possibleeffects
PresumptionShiftsburdenofgoingforewordto
InferenceStrongevidencetowardnegligence,butmuststillprove

Requirements
Agencyofinjuryinexclusivecontrolof
Accidentwouldnotoccurintheabsenceofnegligence
Nocontributorynegligence

Multiplessomejurisdictionsrequirethatallbebeforect

Medicalmalpractice
Organizationalenterpriseliabilitymightbeabetterapproach
Standardofcareisdefinedbycustomintheprofession,Robbinsv.Footer
Informedconsent,Pauscherv.IowaMethodistMed
Doctorshaveadutytodiscloserelevantissuesaboutrisksinherentintreatment,alternativesandlikelyresults
mustshowwouldhavepreventedharmifwarned
Standardofdisclosure
Reasonablepatientrule
Whatwouldpatientwanttoknow?
Objectiveeasiertodealwiththanasubjectivepatientrule
Schuck'sarticle

Physicianrulewhatdoctorthinksisimportant

Informedconsentliabilityisexpanding

Actual causation (but for)

Ness test
AisthecauseofBifAisanecessaryelementofactual,antecedentconditionsthat,togetherwithothers,
weresufficientfortheinjury
Coasian theory
Setupclearrulesforliability,andpartieswillnegotiatetomostefficientarrangement
Conferliabilityonthecheapestcostavoider
Calabresian theory
Marketdeterrence(economics)balancedwithcollectivedeterrence(policy)
Causalelementwasthecheapestcostavoider,soshouldbeliable
Substantial factor
Social causation
Necessary and Sufficient
TraditionalBurdenofproof,50+%=totalaward
Non-traditional causation
Indeterminate
Alternateliability
Marketshareliability
Productsmustbefungible
Marketmustbeproperlydefined
Dependingonjurisdiction,allormostsmustbepresent
Exculpationispermitted
Mustbenoinconsistentverdicts
JointandSeveraloronlySeveralliability

Indeterminate
Classaction
Proximate causation
Necessary and sufficient, Steinhauser
Direct and natural consequence, Polemis
Ifanyharmisforeseeable,allharmsresultingarecompensable

Foreseeability, Wagon Mound

Iftypeofinjuryisaforeseeableresultofactions,thenliable
Definitionofforeseeability,Palsgraaf
Cardozo
Eachmustbeaforeseeablevictimtorecover,notjustclass
Legalquestion
Usepolicyconsiderationsindecidingeachharm
Scopeoftherisktest
Wasinjurywithinthescopeofrisktaken
Forinstance,explosionofcanofratpoisonthatwaslabeledasgreenbeansisnotwithinthescopeofthe
mislabeling(eventhoughforeseeable)

Andrews

Jurydecideswhatistooremote
Ifanyinjuryisforeseeable,thenallinjuriesactuallycausedshouldbecompensated,limitedbyjury

Intervening causes
Lastwrongdoertest
Lastpersonabletopreventharmshouldbeliable
Largelybeenoverruled
Liableunlesssupersedingcause
Ifsameharmaswouldhavehappenedotherwise,thennotsuperseding
Ifshouldhaveforeseeninterveningcause,thenstillliable
Ifinterveningcauseisnormalresponsetosactions,thennotsuperseding
Other doctrines
Eggshellskull
Firerules
Dangerinvitesrescue
Suicide
Defenses
Contributory negligence
Lastclearchance
Conscious,recovers
Unconscious,recovers
Inattentive,Ifbothinattentivethennorecovery
AutomaticPilot,Norecovery
Comparativefault
Pure,alwaysrecoverssomething
Modified,recoversonlyif50+%atfault
MaryCartersettlement
Assumption of the risk
Express
Implied
Musthaveknownofrisk
Musthavevoluntarilyassumedrisk
Immunities
Charitableimmunity

Familyimmunity
Nolongerused
Stillusedwhennegligentexerciseofauthorityoverchild
Stillusedwhennegligentparentaldiscretion,suchasfood,clothing,housing,medical&dental
services,etc.

Damages
Personal injuries
Painandsuffering
LostEarnings
Lostbodyfunction
Mentaldistress
Hedonistic
Medicalmonitoring
Healthphobias
WrongfulDeath
Losstotheestate
Losstothesurvivors
Commonlawusuallyctsdonotallowboth1,2butoneortheother
LossofConsortium
Lossoflove
Companionship
Services
Sexualrelations
Modernextensions
Appellatectwillnotoverturnadamageawardunlessitissolargethat,atfirstblush,itshocksthe
conscienceandsuggestspassion,prejudiceorcorruptiononthepartofthejury
Remittitor
Additor
Taxes
Damagesnotsubjecttotaxes
Ctsgenerallydonotallowjurytoknowthattaxeswillnotapply
Mitigation of damages
Collateral Benefits rule
LiabilityInspaidsomedamages...theyarenotsubtractedfromaward
Absentastatutetothecontrary,collateralbenefitsdonotoffsetasawardofdamages.
Insurancecompaniesoftensubrogatethecase
Punitive Damages
Onlyforintentionaltortsatleastreckless
Strict liability
Duty requirement relieved by MacPhereson
General strict liability
Losscreatedbywanderinganimals
Nuisance
Trespass
Blasting
Fires
CommonCarriers

Innkeepers
RespondeatSuperior
Damagetopropertybyanairplane(insomestates)
Abnormallydangerousactivities,Restatement2d519
Highdegreeofrisk
Likelihoodofseriousharm
Riskcantbeeliminatedwithduecare
Notacommonactivity
Considerappropriatenessoftheactivity
Considervalueofactivityvdangerofactivity
Product strict liability, Restatement 2d 402A
Defectiveconditionthatisunreasonablydangerous
Mustbesalebymerchant
Mustbeproduct
NeedDefect
ConsumerexpectationstestR2d
BenefitrisktestR3d
Manufacturingdefect
Designdefect
Structuraldefects
Lackofsafetyfeatures
Foreseeablemisuses

Failuretowarn
Restatement3d
Requiresalternatedesignfordesigndefects
Usesbenefitrisktest
Looksatentireproducttodetermineriskiness

Causationisalwaysrequired
Musthaveforeseeabilityofunreasonabledanger(assumed)
UCCliability(warranty)
Expresswarranty,2313
Impliedwarrantyofmerchantability,2314
Impliedwarrantyoffitnessforuse,2314
Defenses
LearnedIntermediaryexception
Privilege
Productalteration
Comparativefault
Productmisuse
Assumptionoftherisk
Stateoftheartnotechnologyavailabletoknowwasdangerous
Usefullifeproductusedbeyondusefullife
Statuteoflimitations
UCC
Disclaimers
Canbedefeatedwithadvertisingthatclaimsotherwise
Limitationsofconsequentialdamages(soleremedyistoreplaceorrepair)notvalidwithconsumerproducts,UCC2
719(3)

Lackofprivity
Notvalidforexpresswarranties
Usuallynotvalidforimpliedwarranties

Warnings
Unavoidably unsafe products are considered under negligence
Vaccines

Trespass
Nuisance
Whogetsentitlement
Unreasonableinterferencestandard
Harm/Utilitytest
Remedialmeasures
Howtoenforceentitlement
Propertyrule
Leadstoinjunction,i.e.holderofentitlementcanbanactivity
Participantscanthenbargainforrighttoparticipateinactivity

Liabilityrule
Noprevention
Jurydecideswhatcostofentitlementshouldbeandawards
Onlyretrospective

Hybridrule
Damageclaim,Jost
Conditionalinjunctionagainstpolluter,Boomer
Ctallowsnuisance,butrequires1timepayment
Purchasedinjunction,Spurv.Delweb
Benefit/costfavors,butequityfavors
Ctgaveinjunctionto,butmustpaybenefittax
Negotiatedinjunction
andcannegotiatetoallocatecostsinsteadofctimposed

Defenses
Deminimusquestionedactivityfallsbelowthresholdofannoyanceeveryonemustdealwith
Aestheticdefenseviolationsofaestheticsonly(likevision)arenotasactionable
Natureoflocalityactivitiesendemictolocality(animalsinrurality)arenotactionable
hypersensitivity
Comingtothenuisance