Class 13.  Negligence & Strict Liability Ch. 7

 

1.  Tort = civil wrong, not based on contract

          -torts are “in the air”

 

2.  Intentional v. non-intentional torts

          -punitive damages for intentional torts

                   -McDonald’s coffee case

          -compensatory damages only, for non-intentional torts

 

3.  Torts and crimes

 

4.  Negligence = failure to exercise reasonable care (due care)

          -the “king of torts”

          -requires:

                   -duty of care

                   -violation of that duty

                   -proximate cause

                        -not the "but for" rule

                        -reasonably foreseeable

                                -September 11 case, page 137

                   -damages

                        -"eggshell skull" cases, including emotional injury

                        -"negligence invites rescue" - Benjamin Cardozo, one of America's

                                greatest jurists.

           -professional malpractice

                  -Diggs case, page 134: medical malpractice

                  -note: not every error is negligence

                            

 5.  Special negligence rules

          -negligence per se: presumption of negligence (rebuttable)

                   -requires a statute

                        -Hernandez case, page 135

          -res ipsa loquitur: creates a presumption of negligence

                   -requires exclusive control and an event that does not ordinarily

                          occur without negligence

 

6.  Contributory negligence, comparative negligence

          -Idaho: modified comparative negligence rule

 

7.  Recklessness

 

8.  Strict liability

          -no fault needed; no privity of contract needed; statute of limitations starts

                at date of injury

          -requirements:

              -merchant seller

              -abnormally dangerous activities or unreasonably dangerous products

                      (hidden danger of  serious injury)

         

9.  Tort reform

           -Idaho Code 6-1603, limitation of non-economic damages to

            $250,000 (as of 2004) unless willful, reckless or felonious.

           -joint & several liability replaced with proportionate liability

           -statute of repose: 10 years