🦹Intro to Law and Legal Process Unit 5 – Torts

What Are Torts?

• Torts are civil wrongs that cause harm or injury to another person or their property
• Tort law aims to provide relief to the injured party and deter others from committing similar wrongs
• Torts can be committed intentionally, negligently, or through strict liability
• The injured party (plaintiff) can seek compensation from the wrongdoer (defendant) through a lawsuit
• Torts differ from criminal law as they are civil matters between private parties, while criminal cases involve the state prosecuting an individual for a crime against society
• The burden of proof in tort cases is lower than in criminal cases, requiring a "preponderance of evidence" rather than "beyond a reasonable doubt"
• Tort law has evolved over time to address new types of harms and adapt to changing societal values and technological advancements

Types of Torts

• Intentional torts involve a deliberate act to cause harm (assault, battery, false imprisonment, intentional infliction of emotional distress)
• Negligence occurs when a person fails to exercise reasonable care, resulting in harm to another (car accidents, medical malpractice, slip and fall incidents)
• Strict liability holds a defendant responsible for damages regardless of fault (product liability, abnormally dangerous activities)
• Defamation is a tort involving harm to a person's reputation through false statements (libel for written statements, slander for spoken statements)
• Nuisance torts involve interference with another's use and enjoyment of their property (noise pollution, environmental contamination)
• Trespass occurs when a person enters another's property without permission or remains after permission has been revoked
• Conversion is the wrongful possession or disposition of another's property
• Invasion of privacy torts protect an individual's right to be left alone and not have their private affairs made public

Elements of Negligence

• Duty: The defendant owed a legal duty of care to the plaintiff
  • This duty arises from the relationship between the parties or is imposed by law
  • The standard of care varies depending on the situation and the defendant's role (reasonable person, professionals, common carriers)
• Breach: The defendant breached their duty by failing to act as a reasonable person would under similar circumstances
  • The breach can be an act or an omission
  • Factors considered include the likelihood of harm, severity of potential harm, and the burden of taking precautions
• Causation: The defendant's breach of duty caused the plaintiff's injuries
  • Actual cause (but-for causation): The harm would not have occurred but for the defendant's actions
  • Proximate cause: The harm was a foreseeable consequence of the defendant's actions
• Damages: The plaintiff suffered actual harm or losses as a result of the defendant's breach
  • Damages can be economic (medical expenses, lost wages) or non-economic (pain and suffering, emotional distress)
  • The plaintiff must prove the extent and value of their damages

Intentional Torts

• Assault is an intentional act that creates an apprehension of imminent harmful or offensive contact
  • Words alone are insufficient; there must be an overt act
  • Actual contact is not required for assault
• Battery is the intentional and harmful or offensive contact with another person without their consent
  • Contact can be direct or indirect (through an object or substance)
  • The contact must be harmful or offensive to a reasonable person
• False imprisonment is the intentional confinement of a person within fixed boundaries without legal justification
  • Confinement can be physical barriers, force, or threats of force
  • The plaintiff must be aware of the confinement or harmed by it
• Intentional infliction of emotional distress (IIED) occurs when extreme or outrageous conduct intentionally or recklessly causes severe emotional distress
  • The conduct must be beyond all possible bounds of decency
  • The emotional distress must be severe and not fleeting
• Trespass to land is the intentional entry onto another's property without permission
  • Trespass can occur above or below the surface
  • Damages are not required for trespass, but they can be awarded if the trespass causes harm

Defenses to Torts

• Consent is a complete defense to intentional torts if it is freely given, covers the conduct in question, and is given by a person capable of consenting
  • Consent can be express (verbal or written) or implied (through actions or circumstances)
  • Consent obtained through fraud, duress, or incapacity is invalid
• Self-defense justifies the use of reasonable force to protect oneself from imminent harm
  • The force used must be proportional to the threat faced
  • The defendant must have a reasonable belief that force is necessary to prevent harm
• Defense of others allows the use of reasonable force to protect another person from imminent harm under similar conditions as self-defense
• Necessity is a defense when the defendant's actions, which would otherwise be tortious, are necessary to prevent a greater harm
  • The harm avoided must outweigh the harm caused
  • The defendant must have no reasonable alternative course of action
• Contributory negligence, in some jurisdictions, completely bars a plaintiff's recovery if they are found to have contributed to their own harm through their own negligence
• Comparative negligence allocates fault between the plaintiff and defendant, reducing the plaintiff's recovery by their percentage of fault
  • Pure comparative negligence allows recovery even if the plaintiff is more at fault than the defendant
  • Modified comparative negligence bars recovery if the plaintiff's fault exceeds a certain threshold (e.g., 50%)
• Assumption of risk is a defense when the plaintiff voluntarily and knowingly encounters a risk of harm
  • Express assumption of risk occurs through a written or verbal agreement
  • Implied assumption of risk is inferred from the plaintiff's conduct and knowledge of the risk

Damages and Remedies

• Compensatory damages aim to restore the plaintiff to their pre-injury position
  • Economic damages cover quantifiable financial losses (medical bills, property damage, lost earnings)
  • Non-economic damages compensate for intangible harms (pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life)
• Punitive damages punish the defendant for particularly egregious conduct and deter similar future behavior
  • Punitive damages are awarded in addition to compensatory damages
  • The defendant's conduct must be willful, wanton, or reckless
• Nominal damages are a token award (e.g., $1) when a tort has occurred but no substantial harm was suffered
  • Nominal damages vindicate the plaintiff's rights and establish the defendant's liability
• Injunctions are court orders requiring the defendant to take or refrain from specific actions
  • Temporary injunctions preserve the status quo pending trial
  • Permanent injunctions are issued after a final determination of the parties' rights
• Restitution requires the defendant to restore the plaintiff to their original position by returning property or profits gained from the wrongful act
  • Restitution is based on the principle of unjust enrichment
  • It aims to prevent the defendant from benefiting from their wrongdoing

Famous Tort Cases

• Liebeck v. McDonald's Restaurants (1994): A woman suffered severe burns from spilled coffee, leading to a discussion of product liability and the "McDonald's coffee case" as a symbol of frivolous lawsuits
  • The jury awarded $2.7 million in punitive damages, which was later reduced by the court
  • The case highlighted the importance of adequate product warnings and safe serving temperatures
• Escola v. Coca-Cola Bottling Co. (1944): A waitress was injured by an exploding Coca-Cola bottle, establishing the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur and strict product liability
  • The court held that the manufacturer had a duty to ensure the safety of its products
  • This case paved the way for modern product liability law
• New York Times Co. v. Sullivan (1964): A landmark Supreme Court case that established the "actual malice" standard for defamation claims brought by public officials
  • The Court held that public officials must prove the defendant acted with knowledge of falsity or reckless disregard for the truth
  • This case balanced the protection of free speech with the right to defend one's reputation
• Tarasoff v. Regents of the University of California (1976): A case involving a therapist's duty to warn third parties of a patient's threats of violence
  • The court held that therapists have a duty to protect foreseeable victims from their patients' threats
  • This case established the "duty to warn" in mental health professions and raised questions about patient confidentiality
• Palsgraf v. Long Island Railroad Co. (1928): A case that established the principle of foreseeability in determining the scope of a defendant's duty of care
  • The court held that the defendant owed no duty to an unforeseeable plaintiff who was injured by a chain of events set in motion by the defendant's actions
  • This case is often studied for its discussion of proximate causation and the limits of liability

Tort Law in Practice

• Attorneys specializing in tort law represent plaintiffs or defendants in civil litigation
  • Plaintiff's attorneys often work on a contingency fee basis, receiving a percentage of the recovery
  • Defense attorneys are typically hired by insurance companies to represent their insured
• Insurance plays a significant role in tort law, as many defendants have liability insurance to cover potential damages
  • Insurance companies often have a duty to defend their insured and may settle cases to avoid the costs and risks of trial
  • The availability and cost of insurance can influence the behavior of potential defendants and the pursuit of tort claims
• Alternative dispute resolution methods, such as mediation and arbitration, are increasingly used to resolve tort claims outside of court
  • These methods can be faster, less expensive, and more flexible than traditional litigation
  • Some contracts may require parties to pursue alternative dispute resolution before filing a lawsuit
• Tort reform refers to efforts to change tort law, often to limit the ability to bring claims or the amount of damages that can be awarded
  • Proponents argue that reform is necessary to prevent frivolous lawsuits and excessive damages
  • Opponents contend that reform can limit access to justice and fail to adequately compensate injured parties
• The impact of tort law extends beyond individual cases, as it shapes societal norms and influences the behavior of individuals and businesses
  • The threat of liability can encourage the adoption of safety measures and best practices
  • High-profile cases can lead to changes in industry standards, regulations, and public awareness of important issues