Intentional Torts Outline

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Torts Outline Geistfeld—Spring 2005 1) Intentional Torts a) Battery: i) Elements (1) A acts, (2) Intending to cause (a) Harmful contact with P or (b) Contact with P that is offensive and (dignitary harm—not always recognized) (3) A’s act causes such contact. ii) Difference between battery and negligence—negligence is when the D has wrong the P by failing to take sufficient care to avoid harming her. iii) Intent: will have to rely on circumstantial evidence, since mental states are not observable. (1) First issue is motive, but it generally does not matter, since why you did it is not relevant. We’re thinking about rules that govern interactions—objective rather than subjective standard. We’ll get to SD later—motive matters…show more content…
e) Defenses i) Reasonableness factors into all defenses. ii) Defense of Consent (1) Koffman v. Garnett, VA, 2003 (584)—football training case. (a) The issue here is scope of consent. P says only consented to being tackled by players of own age and experience. Court finds that the lower court erred in finding the complaint insufficient. (2) Scope of consent—comes up in healthcare situations. (a) O’Brien v. Cunard, Mass, 1891 (591)—woman says she never consented to being vaccinated. What to do when victim says she never consented, but D reasonably believed she did? There is no liability as long as D actually and reasonably believed consent existed. P’s physical integrity interests give way to D’s liberty interests. (3) Effectiveness of Consent (a) Consent can be ineffective if: (i) Don’t know about a certain risk (ii) Don’t have capability to consent (statutory questions) (4) Legal fiction of implied consent so people will give emergency medical care. iii) Self-Defense and Defense of Others (1) Victim has to actually and reasonably believe it is necessary to injure another to avoid imminent injuries to herself. Instigator must have tried to disengage to avail self of self-defense. Cannot use excessive force in SD. Some jurisdictions require you to try to retreat—others do not b/c of dignitary…show more content…
(i) 3 categories of standards of care: 1. Trespasser: very limited duty. No negligence duty, though in the Katko case the P recovered (the landowner cannot engage in intentional or reckless conduct). 2. Licensee: allowed to be there. Duty not to cause harm and duty to warn of dangers that owner knows of but are not apparent. Have to maintain the land in whatever manner is reasonable care. (If people regularly trespass, the owner impliedly gives consent and they become licensees.) 3. Invitee (or business invitee): there for some material benefit that the owner derives or an institutional purpose. Duty of reasonable care. (About half of the states have abolished the difference between licensee and invitee—duty of reasonable care for all.) (ii) Salaman v. City of Waterbury, CT, 1998 (74): guy drowns in city reservoir. The court finds that P was a licensee, since the city knew he was there. But the reservoir is not a hidden hazard within the landowner’s duty to licensees. No

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