美国侵权法讲义.doc

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1、TortLawOutlinePrimaryconcernw/torts–whetheronewhoseactionsharmanothershouldberequiredtopaycompensationfortheharmdoneGoalsofTortSystem-promoteefficient/safebehaviorthroughincentives/disincentives-makepeoplewhole;puttheminplaceasifaccidentwouldn’thaveoccurredThetortsystemhel

2、pscompensatepeopleinareaswhereinsuranceandthegovernmentdoesnot.WhatisaTort?-personv.person,insteadofpersonv.state(civil,notcriminal)-compensationbeingsought-injuredpersonmustbringsuit,statewon’t-determiningliability,notillegality-createsincentivesforgoodbehavior-canprovide

3、punitivedamages-mostlyinstatecourtsNegligenceNegligence–failureofaDtotakereasonablecaretoprotectareasonableP.Elements:1.Dhadaduty2.Dbreachedthatduty/stdofcare3.Dcausedtheinjury(actualandproximate)4.Pwasinjured,therearelegallycompensabledamagesNegligence–conductwhichfallsbe

4、lowthestandardestablishedbylawfortheprotectionofothersagainstunreasonableriskofharmFormostnegligentactions,anactisnegligentonlyoftheactorfailstousereasonablecare.Anactorisreq’dtousereasonablecarethatareasonable,prudentpersoninhisposition,withhisinfoandcompetence,wouldrecog

5、nizenecessarytopreventanunreasonableriskofharmtoanother.-Note:reasonablecareistheordinarystandardofcarerequirement,thisstandardcanbealsobe“noduty”oraheightenedduty(discussedfurtherinstandardofcaresection).-Variouswaysfordeterminingreasonableactivityarealsodiscussedindetail

6、inthe“standardsofcare”section(pg6)Tortsbecameandimportantandlargepartofthelawinthelate19thcenturyb/cthemachinescreatedbytheindustrialrevolutionledtoseveralunintentionalinjuries.-Priortotheindustrialrevolution,therewerenoexactrulesforstrictliabilityornegligence.Hammontreev.

7、Jenner(pg3)CourtofAppealofCalifornia,1971Facts:-Jenner(D)runshiscarintoHammontree’s(P)shopwhenhehasaseizure-Psufferedpersonalinjuriesanddamagestohershop-DwastakingmedicineprescribedbydoctortopreventseizuresanddoctorsaidthatDwassafetodriveacar.P’sArgument-Pwantedtouseproduc

8、tliabilityprecedenttoimposestrictliabilityonDCourt’sRuling-Courttreatsseizureasanunforese