法律英语专题侵权法

法律英语专题侵权法第一页，共89页。GeneralTortacivilwrongwhichunfairlycausessomeoneelsetosufferlossorharm★Itdoesnotincludebreachofcontractortrust.(Acivilwrongcanbeatort,breachofcontractorbreachoftrust.)Purposeoftortlawtoproviderelieftotheinjuredpartythroughtheawardofdamagesfortheinjuriesincurredduringatortiousact第二页，共89页。GeneraltodeterothersfromcommittingthesameactUStortlawTortlawintheU.S.islargelycommonlaw.Courtshavethepowertoshapeandchangetheelementsofclaimsanddefensesofexistingtortsandthepowertocreatenewtorts.Statuteshavebeenpassedinattemptsto‘reform’thetortsystem.第三页，共89页。GeneralMostofthemhaverelatedtoproceduralmattersandamountsandcategoriesofdamages.ManyjudgesutilizetheRestatementofTorts(2nd)asaninfluentialguide.TheRestatementisaninfluentialtreatiseissuedbytheAmericanLawInstitute,whichsummarizesthegeneralprinciplesofcommonlawUnitedStatestortlaw.Categoriesoftortsintentionaltorts第四页，共89页。Generalnegligencestrictliabilitytorts第五页，共89页。IntentionalTorts第六页，共89页。GeneralDefinitionAnintentionaltortisatortresultingfromanintentionalactonthepartofthetortfeasor.Subcategoriestortsagainstthepersonassaultbatteryfalseimprisonmentintentionalinflictionofemotionaldistress第七页，共89页。Generalpropertytortstrespasstolandtrespasstochattels(personalproperty)conversiondignitarytortsdefamationinvasionofprivacy

第八页，共89页。TortsAgainstthePerson第九页，共89页。AssaultDefinitionanintentionalactthatcausesanapprehensionofimmediateharmfuloroffensivecontact★Apprehensionisnotthesameasfear—hereitmeansawarenessthataninjuryoroffensivecontactisimminent.RequirementsTheactmustbeovert.Merewordsdonotconstituteanassault.第十页，共89页。AssaultTheremustbeanaccompanyingact.Thedefendantmusthavetheapparentabilitytocarryoutthecontact.Actualabilitytocarryoutthecontactisnotnecessary.Theplaintiffmusthaveareasonableapprehensionofsuchcontact.Actualfearontheplaintiff’spartisnotrequired.Examples第十一页，共89页。AssaultswingingabaseballbatatsomeoneholdingarockandthreateningtothrowitatsomeonepointingagunatsomeonepointingarealistictoygunatsomeoneCriminalassaultandtortiousassaultCriminalassaultcanoccurevenwhennothreatisperceivedbythevictim.Withthetortofassault,aperceivedthreatbythevictimisparamount.第十二页，共89页。Assault＊Adefendantwhothrowsarockatasleepingvictimandmissescanonlybeguiltyoftheattemptedbatteryassault,sincethevictimwouldnotbeawareofthepossibleharm.第十三页，共89页。BatteryDefinitionanintentionalactthatcausesaharmfuloroffensivecontact‘Harmful’contactcontactthatobjectivelyintendstoinjure,disfigure,impair,orcausepain‘Offensive’contactcontactthatwouldoffendaperson’ssenseofpersonaldignity第十四页，共89页。BatteryExamplesbeatingsomeonewithatireironspittinginsomeone'sfaceknockingahatoffsomeone'sheadwhippingahorseonwhichsomeonewasriding,causinghimtofallandbeinjuredmixingsomethingoffensiveinfoodthatheknowsanotherwilleat—theotherdoesinfacteattheoffensivematter第十五页，共89页。Batterydiggingapitwiththeintentthatanotherwillfallintoitlater—theotherdoesinfactfallintoitCriminalandtortiousbatteryUsuallybatteryisprosecutedasacrimeonlyincasesinvolvingseriousharmtothevictim.Criminallawrecognizesdegreesofcrimesinvolvingphysicalcontact.Thereisbutasingletortofbattery.第十六页，共89页。FalseImprisonmentDefinitionthedetentionofapersoninaboundedareawithoutjustificationorconsent★Theessenceofthetortisthenaturalmentalharmthatresultswhenone’sfreedomisrestrictedwithoutjustification.Elementsintenttoconfineapersonwithinacertainarea第十七页，共89页。FalseImprisonmentactualconfinementawarenessoftheconfinementbythepersonsoconfinednoreasonablemeansofescapeFalsearrest‘Falsearrest’occurswhensomeonearrestsanotherindividualwithoutthelegalauthoritytodoso,whichbecomesfalseimprisonmentthemomentheorsheistakenintocustody.第十八页，共89页。IIEDDefinition★shortforintentionalinflictionofemotionaldistress★referredtoasthetortofoutrageinsomejurisdictionsintentionalconductthatresultsinextremeemotionaldistressElementsThedefendantmustactintentionallyorrecklessly.第十九页，共89页。IIEDThedefendant'sconductmustbeextremeandoutrageous.Theconductmustcausetheplaintifftosuffersevereemotionaldistress.SevereemotionaldistressThistortinvolvesmorethanhurtfeelings,disappointment,orworry.Theremustbeseverementalsuffering,i.e.suchthatnoreasonablepersonshouldbeexpectedtoendureit.第二十页，共89页。IIED★Thisstandardisquantifiedbytheintensity,duration,andanyphysicalmanifestations(ulcersorheadaches,forexample)ofthedistress.ExamplesApersonrefusedtoinformanotherofthewhereaboutsofthatother'schildforseveralyears,thoughthepersonknewwherethechildwastheentiretime.第二十一页，共89页。IIEDApersonsentalettertoanotherfalselyinforminghimthataclosefamilymemberofhishadbeenkilledinanaccident.第二十二页，共89页。StatuteofLimitationsDefinitionanenactmentthatrestrictsthetimewithinwhichlegalproceedingsmaybeinitiatedObjectivetopreventclaimsfromarisingafterallevidencehasbeenlostorafterthefactshavebecomeobscurethroughthepassageoftime,orthedeathordisappearanceofwitnesses第二十三页，共89页。StatuteofLimitationsFunctionThestatuteoflimitationsisadefensethatisordinarilyassertedbythedefendanttodefeatanactionbroughtagainsthimaftertheappropriatetimehaselapsed.ApplicationThedefendantmustraisethedefensebeforethecourtuponansweringtheplaintiff'scomplaint.第二十四页，共89页。StatuteofLimitationsIfnot,heisregardedashavingwaivedthedefenseandwillnotbepermittedtouseitinanysubsequentproceedings.TollingthestatuteWhenthestatuteistolled,therunningoflimitationsissuspendeduntilsomeeventspecifiedbylawtakesplace.★Mostjurisdictionsprovidethatthestatuteoflimitationsistolledundercertaincircumstances:第二十五页，共89页。StatuteofLimitationsTheplaintiffisaminor.Theplaintiffhasbeendeemedinsane.Theplaintiffhasbeenconvictedofafelonyandisimprisoned.Thedefendantisinbankruptcy.第二十六页，共89页。Shopkeeper'sPrivilegeGeneralInsomejurisdictionsoftheUS,thecourtsrecognizeacommonlawshopkeeper'sprivilege,underwhichashopkeeperisallowedtodetainasuspectedshoplifteronstorepropertyforareasonableperiodoftime,solongastheshopkeeperhasprobablecausetobelievethatthepersondetainedinfactcommitted,orattemptedtocommit,theftofstoreproperty.第二十七页，共89页。Shopkeeper'sPrivilege★Thisprivilegedoesnotincludethepowerofsearch.RequisiteconditionsInvestigationonornearpremisesThedetentionitselfshouldbeeffectedeitheronthestorepremisesorintheimmediatevicinitythereof.ReasonablesuspicionTheshopkeeperhasreasonablegroundstosuspecttheparticularpersondetainedisshoplifting.第二十八页，共89页。Shopkeeper'sPrivilegeReasonableforceonlyOnlyreasonable,non-deadlyforceisusedtoeffectthedetention.ReasonableperiodandmannerofdetentionThedetentionitselfmaybeforonlythetimenecessarytomakeareasonableinvestigationofthefacts.第二十九页，共89页。PropertyTorts第三十页，共89页。TrespasstoLandGeneralTrespasstolandoccurswhenapersondirectlyentersuponanother'slandwithoutpermission,orremainsupontheland,orplacesorprojectsanyobjectupontheland.Thebasisforthistortistherighttoexclusivepossessionoftheland.NatureThistortisactionableperse.第三十一页，共89页。TrespasstoLandDamagesarenotrequiredtobeprovenforintentionaltrespass.Onlywhentheentryisnegligentisthereanyneedtoprovedamages.IntentTheintentrequirementoftrespassisonlythatthepersonintendedtoentertheproperty.Itisirrelevantwhetherornottheentryisamistake,causedbyignoranceoftheownershiportheboundaries.第三十二页，共89页。TrespasstoLandNoteTherightsinherentinthepossessionoflandextendaboveandbelowthesurface.第三十三页，共89页。TrespasstoChattelsDefinitiontheintentionalinterferencewithanotherperson'slawfulpossessionofachattel(movablepersonalproperty)Interferenceanyphysicalcontact(intermeddling)withthechattelinaquantifiablewayanydispossessionofthechattel(whetherbytakingit,destroyingit,orbarringtheowner'saccesstoit)第三十四页，共89页。TrespasstoChattelsNoteIncasesofintermeddling,thereneedstobeactualharmsustainedbytheplaintiffinorderforhimtosue.Damagesarelimitedtotheactualharm(whichcanincludeeconomiclossasaresultofthetrespass—e.g.lossofprofitonadamagedchattel).Incasesofdispossession,theplaintiffisalwaysentitledtodamagesevenifnoquantifiableharmcanbeproven.第三十五页，共89页。TrespasstoChattelsExampleHermanseeshisWarandPeacesittingonatable.Hepicksupthebook,putsitinhisbagandgoeshome.Infact,thebookbelongstoLeonandHermanhasmistakenitforhisowncopy.Inthiscase,HermanisliableforatrespasstochattelsbecauseheintendedtotakeLeon’sbook,eventhoughhisactionwasbasedonareasonablemistake.第三十六页，共89页。ConversionGeneralConversionoccurswhensomeonewrongfullytakesorusespropertyofanotherfortheirownpurposesordestroysitoraltersitsnature.ConversionandtheftTheftwillalsobeconversion.Butnotallconversionsaretheftsbecauseconversionrequiresnoelementofdishonesty.第三十七页，共89页。ConversionPropertysubjecttoconversionItmustbepersonalproperty.Realpropertycannotbelostandthenfound.Itmustbetangible.money,ananimal,furniture,ortoolscropsortimber(aftertheyareseveredfromtheground)rightsinapaper,suchasalifeinsurancepolicy,astockcertificate,orapromissorynote第三十八页，共89页。ConversionExamplesApersonhasanother’scartowedawayinordertotaketheparkingplace.Adrycleanermistakenlydeliversasuittothewrongcustomer.Amechanicborrowsasportscarheissupposedtorepairwithoutpermission.Aneighborlendsherhedgetrimmertoafriend,butthefriendusesittocutdownatree.第三十九页，共89页。TrespasstoChattelsandConversionGeneralThetwoconceptsarecloselyrelated.SimilarityBothincludethewrongful,intentionalinterferenceofpersonalproperty.DifferenceTheyaredifferentindegree—thedamagedonetotheplaintiff’spossessioninaconversioncaseismoreseverethaninatrespasscase.第四十页，共89页。TrespasstoChattelsandConversionApplicationIngeneral,whenanobjectisdamagedbutrepairable,trespasstochattelsisthemoreappropriatetort.Whensomethingisdestroyedorstolen,conversionismoreappropriate.Whentrespassisfound,apersoncanrecoverthevalueofthe"lostuse"oftheitem—andrecovertheitemitself.Conversion,instead,allowsapersontorecoverthefullvalueoftheitem.第四十一页，共89页。TrespasstoChattelsandConversionExampleDaphnehitsMarty’sdogwithhercar.Thedogsuffersabrokenleg.ThiswouldbeanactionabletrespasstochattelsandMartywouldbeawardeddamagescommensuratewiththeharmdonebyDaphne.DaphnehitsMarty’sdogwithhercar.Thedogdies.Thiswouldbeanactionableconversion.Martywouldbeawardedthedog’sfullvalue.第四十二页，共89页。DignitaryTorts第四十三页，共89页。DefamationDefinitionthecommunicationofafalsestatementthatharmsaperson’sreputation★Defamatoryinformationmustbecommunicatedtoathirdperson.Typesslander—oraldefamation(spokenstatements)libel—writtendefamation(written,printedorbroadcastwords)第四十四页，共89页。DefamationPublicfigurelawofdefamationApublicfigurealleginglibelmustproveactualmalice.★Publicfiguresvoluntarilyplacethemselvesinapositionthatinvitesclosescrutiny.DefamationperseSomecategoriesofstatementsareconsidereddefamatoryperse—injuryispresumedandneedn’tbeproven.第四十五页，共89页。Defamation第四十六页，共89页。Defamationopinionprivilegeevidencegivenincourtstatementsmadeinasessionofthelegislature第四十七页，共89页。InvasionofPrivacyDefinitiontheintrusionintothepersonallifeofanother,withoutjustcauseCategoriesintrusionofsolitudeactualphysicalorelectronicintrusionintoaperson’sprivatequarters★Apersonwasundressingathome,andsomeonefilmedthiswithouttellingtheperson.第四十八页，共89页。InvasionofPrivacypublicdisclosureofprivatefactsthedisseminationoftruthfulprivateinformationwhichareasonablepersonwouldfindobjectionable★Anunscrupulousreporterrummagedthroughapublicfigure'sgarbagetofindevidenceofprescriptiondruguseorotherhighlypersonalmatters.falselightthepublicationoffactswhichplaceapersoninafalselight,eventhoughthefactsthemselvesmaynotbedefamatory第四十九页，共89页。InvasionofPrivacy◆Falselightcasesareaboutdamagetoaperson'spersonalfeelingsordignity,whereasdefamationisaboutdamagetoaperson'sreputation.★Areporterreturnedtothesceneofamassivebridgecollapseseveralyearsafterthetragedy.Thereporterattemptedtointerviewthewidowofamanwhodiedinthecrash.Thewidowandherchildrenwerenotathomesothereporterfabricatedastoryaboutthemwhichplacedtheminafalselightinthepubliceye.第五十页，共89页。InvasionofPrivacyappropriationtheunauthorizeduseofaperson'snameorlikenesstoobtainsomebenefits★Alocalrestaurantusedacelebrity'snameorimageinacommercialandimpliedanofficialendorsement.第五十一页，共89页。Negligence第五十二页，共89页。GeneralDefinitionconductthatbreachesastandardofcaredeemedbythelawasnecessarytoprotectothersfromunreasonablerisksofharm★generallyexpressedasa‘breachofaduty’ElementsThedefendantowedadutyofcaretotheplaintiff;第五十三页，共89页。Generalthedefendantbreachedthatduty;andasaresultofthedefendant'sbreachofthatduty,theplaintiffsufferedinjury.第五十四页，共89页。StandardofCareGeneralAllpeopleareunderadutytoconductthemselvesinsuchamannerasnottocreateunreasonablerisksofphysicalharmtoothers.Duringatrial,theconductofthedefendantisreviewedtodetermineifheorshehasmetthereasonablepersonstandard.Wouldareasonablepersonhaveactedsimilarlyundersimilarcircumstances?第五十五页，共89页。StandardofCareReasonablepersonahypotheticalpersoninsocietywhoshowsaveragecare,skillorjudgmentinconduct★Itisnotanaverageortypicalperson.★Itisacompositeofacommunity'sjudgmentastohowatypicalmemberofthatcommunityshouldbehaveinsituationsthatmightposeathreatofharmtothepublic.第五十六页，共89页。StandardofCare☆Eventhoughthemajorityofpeopleinthecommunitymaybehaveinacertainway,thatdoesnotestablishthestandardofconductofthereasonableperson.ReasonablepersonstandardApersonhasactednegligentlyifshehasdepartedfromconductexpectedofareasonablyprudentpersonactingundersimilarcircumstances.第五十七页，共89页。StandardofCare第五十八页，共89页。Causation第五十九页，共89页。Causation第六十页，共89页。CausationItissufficientifareasonablepersonwouldhaveforeseentheharmfulresults.Interveningcauseaneventwhichoccursafterthedefendant’snegligentacthasoccurredandwhichcontributestotheinjury★Iftheinterveningcausewastheproximatecauseoftheplaintiff’sinjury,thedefendant’sactwillnotbeconsideredtheproximatecause.第六十一页，共89页。Causation★Iftheinterveningcausewasforeseeable,thedefendantwilloftenbeheldliableforthisadditionalharm.第六十二页，共89页。NIEDGeneralshortfornegligentinflictionofemotionaldistressacontroversialcauseofactionavailableinnearlyallUSstatesbutseverelyconstrainedandlimitedinthemajorityofthemNIEDandIIEDInanactionforNIEDthereisnoneedtoproveintenttoinflictdistress.第六十三页，共89页。NIEDAnaccidentalinfliction,ifnegligent,issufficienttosupportacauseofaction.UnderlyingconceptOnehasalegaldutytousereasonablecaretoavoidcausingmentaldistresstoanotherindividual.Ifonebreachesthisdutyandunreasonablycausesmentaldistresstoanotherindividual,hewillbeliablefordamagestotheinjuredindividual.第六十四页，共89页。ContributoryNegligenceDefinitionadefensethatbarsaplaintifffromrecoveryifhisorherownactsoromissionscontributetotheinjuryBurdenofproofInsomejurisdictions,thedefendanthastoprovethenegligenceoftheplaintifforclaimant.Inothers,theburdenisontheplaintifftodisprovehisownnegligence.第六十五页，共89页。ContributoryNegligenceDisadvantageItisoftenregardedasunfairbecauseunderthedoctrineavictimwhoisatfaulttoanydegree,includingonly1%atfault,willbedeniedcompensationentirely.ResultIthasbeendeletedasadefensefromthevastmajorityofstatutesandreplacedwithcomparativenegligence.第六十六页，共89页。ComparativeNegligenceDefinitionadefensethatreducestheamountofdamagesthataplaintiffcanrecoverinanegligence-basedclaimbaseduponthedegreetowhichtheplaintiff'sownnegligencecontributedtotheinjuryTypes‘Pure’comparativenegligenceIfaplaintiffis90%atfaultheorshecanstillrecover10%ofhislosses.第六十七页，共89页。ComparativeNegligence‘Partial’comparativenegligenceIfaplaintiffismorethan50%atfaultheorshecannotrecover.第六十八页，共89页。AssumptionofRiskDefinitionadefensethatbarsaplaintifffromrecoveryagainstanegligenttortfeasoriftheplaintiffvoluntarilyandknowinglyassumedtherisksinherenttotheactivityinwhichheparticipatedRationaleUponassumptionoftherisk,thereisnolongeradutyofcarerunningfromthedefendanttotheplaintiff.第六十九页，共89页。AssumptionofRiskWithoutadutyowedbythedefendant,therecanbenonegligenceonhispart.ClassificationsExpressassumptionofriskoccurswhenaplaintiffexplicitlyagreestotakeonarisk.Thisisoftendonethroughacontract.Impliedassumptionofriskoccurswhentheplaintiff’sactionsimplythathehasconsentedtoassumetherisk.第七十页，共89页。AssumptionofRiskExampleJoebrokehisarmwhenhefellintoamanholewhilewalkingdownthestreetinatown.Theareawherethemanholewashadbeenropedoffandlargesignspostedwarningpedestrianstoavoidit.Initsdefense,thetownmayraisethedoctrineofassumptionofrisk.第七十一页，共89页。StrictLiabilityTorts第七十二页，共89页。GeneralStrictliabilityStrictliabilityisliabilitywithoutfault(suchasnegligenceortortiousintent).★Undercertaincircumstances,aplaintiffmaybeallowedrecoveryevenifthereisnofaultonthepartofthedefendant.ApplicationStrictliabilityisoftenimposedonthoseengagedinabnormallydangerousactivities.第七十三页，共89页。GeneralStrictliabilityisalsoimposedonsellersandmanufacturersofproducts.第七十四页，共89页。AbnormallyDangerousActivityDefinitionanactivitythatissoinherentlydangerousthatapersonengagedinitcanbeheldstrictlyliableforinjuriescausedtoanotherperson,evenifhehastakeneveryreasonableprecautiontopreventothersfrombeinginjured★alsotermedinherentlydangerousactivityorultrahazardousactivityCategories第七十五页，共89页。AbnormallyDangerousActivityTransportation,storage,anduseofultrahazardousmaterialsdynamiteandotherexplosivesradioactivematerialscertainhazardouschemicalsKeepingofdangerousanimalswildanimals(i.e.animalsthatarenotnormallydomesticatedinthatarea)domesticatedanimalsthathaveaknownpropensityfordangerousbehavior(e.g.,a

dog

thathasattackedpeoplebefore)第七十六页，共89页。AbnormallyDangerousActivity★Theseactivitiesareallowableaslongasnoharmoccurs.ExceptionApersonwhoisinjuredbyoneoftheseactivitieswhiletrespassingonthepropertyofthepersonengagedintheactivityisbarredfromsuingunderastrictliabilitytheory.Instead,heorshemustprovethatthepropertyownerwas

negligent.第七十七页，共89页。ProductLiability第七十八页，共89页。ProductLiabilityStrictliabilityclaimsGeneralStrictliabilityisappliedcommonlytodangerouslydefectiveproducts.Themanufacturerandanysellerofaproductcanbeheldliableeveniftheyhaveexercisedallreasonablecareinproductionandsaleoftheproduct.LimitationsItap