Tort Law

Chapter 1 The origins and character of tortious liability 1.1. The origins, functions and purposes of the law of torts 1.2. The character of the law of torts 1.3. Fault liability and its alternatives 1.4. Tort compared with other areas of law 1.5. The effect of human rights legislation on the law of torts Chapter 2 Negligence: duty of care 2.1. The origins of negligence and the neighbour principle 2.2. Proximity and the two part test in Anns 2.3. The modern three part test from Caparo 2.4. Points for discussion Chapter 3 Negligence: breach of duty 3.1. The standard of care and the 'reasonable man' test 3.2. Determining the standard of care 3.3. The standard of care and different classes of defendant 3.4. The standard of care of experts and professionals 3.5. Points for discussion Chapter 4 Negligence: causation and remoteness of damage 4.1. Introduction 4.2. Causation in fact and the 'but for' test 4.3. Problems in proving causation 4.4. The problem of multiple causes 4.5. Novus actus interveniens 4.6. Contributory negligence and volenti non fit injuria 4.7. Causation in law and testing remoteness of damage 4.8. Points for discussion Chapter 5 Negligence: proving damage 5.1. Pleading res ipsa loquitur 5.2. The effects of the doctrine 5.3. The criteria for claiming res ipsa loquitur 5.4. Res ipsa loquitur and medical negligence 5.5. Strict liability in negligence Chapter 6 Negligence: novel duty situations 6.1. Introduction 6.2. Negligent misstatement 6.3. Pure economic loss 6.4. Nervous shock 6.5. Liability for omissions Chapter 7 Torts affecting land: occupiers' liability 7.1. Liability to lawful visitors 7.2. Liability to trespassers and non-visitors Chapter 8 Torts affecting land: Trespass to land 8.1. The character and purpose of the tort 8.2. Land, claimants and defendants 8.3. What amounts to trespass? 8.4. Trespass ab initio 8.5. Defences and remedies Chapter 9 Torts affecting land: Nuisance 9.1. The character and purpose of private nuisance 9.2. Claimants and defendants in private nuisance 9.3. The essential elements of private nuisance 9.4. Defences and remedies in private nuisance 9.5. Public nuisance and statutory nuisance Chapter 10 Torts affecting land: Rylands v Fletcher and strict liability 10.1. The character and purpose of the tort 10.2. Essential elements of the tort 10.3. Claimants and defendants in Rylands v Fletcher 10.4. Recoverable damage, remedies and defences 10.5. Points for discussion Chapter 11 Strict liability: liability for animals and product liability 11.1. The nature of strict liability 11.2. Animals and the common law 11.3. The Animals Act 1971 11.4. Liability for defective products and the Consumer Protection Act 1987 Chapter 12 Torts affecting civil liberties: trepass to the person 12.1. The origins and character of trespass 12.2. Assault 12.3. Battery 12.4. False imprisonment 12.5. Intentional indirect harm and protection from harassment Chapter 13 Torts affecting civil liberties: defamation 13.1. The categories of defamation 13.2. The essential elements of the tort 13.3. Defences and remedies 13.4. Remedies 13.5. Points for discussion Chapter 14 Vicarious liability 14.1. Character and purpose of vicarious liability 14.2. Tests of employment status 14.3. Torts in or not in the course employment 14.4. Liability in other circumstances Chapter 15 Defences and remedies 15.1. General defences 15.2. Assessing damages in tort 15.3. Limitation periods in tort 15.4. Other remedies in tort Chapter 16 The Synoptic Element 16.1. The nature and purpose of synoptic assessment 16.2. The OCR synoptic element 16.2. The AQA synoptic element Appendix Answers to dilemma boards Index