9: Introduction to Tort Law
- Page ID
- 170368
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)- 9.1: Chapter Introduction
- This page covers tort law in civil litigation, highlighting its importance alongside contract claims. It details the three types of torts: intentional, negligent, and strict liability, and discusses the relationship between tort law and criminal/contract law. The chapter delves into negligence and defenses against negligence claims, while also addressing the implications for employers concerning their employees' tort liabilities.
- 9.2: Purpose of Tort Laws
- This page provides an overview of tort law, defining torts as legal wrongs that prompt remedies through monetary damages. It identifies three types of torts: intentional, negligent, and strict liability. The text distinguishes torts from crimes, discusses concepts of fault and injuries, and details compensatory and punitive damages.
- 9.3: Intentional Torts
- This page covers intentional torts, distinguishing them from other types, and provides examples such as assault, battery, and trespass. It explains legal definitions and the doctrine of transferred intent, addressing emotional distress claims, property rights, and trespasser injuries. It also discusses tortious interference, malicious prosecution, defamation, and invasion of privacy, including key cases and defenses.
- 9.4: Negligence
- This page provides an overview of negligence law, detailing key elements such as duty of care, causation, and the reasonable man standard for assessing negligence. It explains how unintentional harm can still lead to liability and discusses the concept of negligence per se for statutory breaches. Also included are the defenses to negligence claims, like contributory and comparative negligence, as well as assumption of risk.
- 9.5: Strict Liability
- This page explains strict liability in tort law, differentiating it from negligent torts and covering its historical context. It states that individuals can be held responsible for damages from risky activities or defective products regardless of fault. The criteria for proving products liability are outlined, along with defenses available to defendants, including assumption of risk.
- 9.6: Cases
- This page summarizes key legal principles illustrated through various cases. It discusses false imprisonment in Lester v. Albers, where submission to questioning isn't imprisonment, and negligence in Whitlock v. University of Denver, which involves duty of care and the absence of a special relationship. The page also examines misfeasance and nonfeasance in university contexts, concluding that the University owed no duty to Whitlock. Additionally, it highlights negligence in Palsgraf v.
- 9.7: Summary and Exercises
- This page discusses tort law, emphasizing the duties of care among individuals, its implications for business practices, and its distinction from criminal law. It highlights negligence and liability without requiring intent, along with context-sensitive legal injury and possible statutory limitations. Key business-related torts mentioned include wrongful death and product liability.


