英美侵权法 笔记及案例分析文档格式.docx
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b)Tortsv.Constitution
overlappingissuesbutconsideredindifferentangles
eg.(defamation):
freedomofspeechv.rightofreputation
c)Tortsv.Criminallaws
privatelaw
criminallaws:
publiclaw
ii.purpose
Injuredpartyseekingpersonalrelief
protectthepublicandsatisfyitssenseofjusticebypunishingthewrongdoers
iii.formofremedy
fines,imprisonment,deathpenalty
iv.standardofproof
preponderanceoftheevidence
beyondallreasonabledoubt
2.3typesoftortlaw
a)intentionaltorts
theharmisdesiredortheresultsofharmarewithinknowledge(thesubstantialcertaintyoftheharm).
b)negligence/tortsofnegligence:
legaldutyisowned;
breakofthatduty;
anddamageiscausedtoplaintiff.Theforeseeabilityiscrucial.
c)strictliabilitytorts:
Aliabilityassignedregardlessoffaultasamatterofsocialpolicy.(noforeseeabilityofinjuryorblameworthyconductisrequired)
3.remedies
Compensatorydamages
Punitivedamages(requiremalicious,fraudulent,orevilmotives)
二、intentionaltorts
1.generalelementsofintentionaltorts
a)elements(3)(primafaciecase)
avolitionalact:
amovementdictatedbyaperson’smind(wrongfulact)
intent:
generalintent(substantialcertaintyoftheconsequences)&
specificintent(wanttobringabouttheresults)
causation:
(causalrelationship)theresultmustbelegallycausedbytheact
1.
2.thanontheplayground.ThecourthelditwasunlawfulandthatunlawfulnesswasenoughtoimposeliabilityonDefendant.
3.Thewrongdoerisliableforallinjuriesresultingdirectlyfromthewrongfulactwhethertheycouldorcouldnothavebeenforeseenbyhim,whichistheso-called“eggshellskullrule”.
Judgment:
Judgmentreversedandcaseremandedforanewtrial.
2.Intentionaltortstotheperson(4types)
a)Battery
i.Definition:
theintentional,unprivileged,andeitherharmfuloroffensivecontractwiththepersonofanother.
ii.Elements:
(3)
Act:
bringsaboutharmfuloroffensivecontactstoplaintiff'
spersonoreffects(rule:
plaintiff'
spersonincludesanythingdirectlyconnectedtotheperson,suchasapenorabookheldbytheplaintiffperson.)
Intent:
tomakeacontact(physicaltouch)
Causation:
betweentheactandharmfuloroffensivetouching
Ps:
defendant'
slikeordisliketowardstheplaintiffisexplainablebutnotnecessarytoestablishtheprimafaciecase.
b)Assault
anactcreatingareasonableapprehensionintheplaintiffofimmediateharmfuloroffensivecontacttotheplaintiff’sperson
Act:
creatingareasonableapprehensionintheplaintiffofimmediateharmfuloroffensivecontacttotheplaintiff’sperson
tocauseapprehension
betweentheactandapprehension
Apprehension:
meanstheplaintiff'
sexpectationofthebattery
Adisplayofforcewhichdirectedspecificallytowardstheplaintiff(e.g.athreateninggesturesuggestingimminent,unconsentedcontact)
Thevictimbeawareofthethreateningconductandactuallyfeelthreatened(notrequireactuallybefrightened,test:
areasonableperson)
e.g1:
a13yearoldboyinmilitaryuniformcarriedaplasticgunandthreatenedanadult------apprehensiveofimminentharm?
-------reasonablepersonstandard.
e.g2:
BstandbehindA;
BwanttostabA;
Afinditlater;
AwanttosueB;
isthereanassault?
Answer:
thereisnoassault——thereisNOapprehensiveof
imminentharmwithinA'
sknowledge
iii.Differencesbetweenassaultandbattery(act)
1.Act:
withoutphysicaltouch-->
Assault;
withphysicaltouch--->
Battery.
2.Time:
beforephysicaltouchh-->
afterphysicaltouch--->
Case15Fisherv.CarrouselMotorHotel,Inc.
Proceduralhistory:
FishersuedCarrouselMotorHotel,Inc.,theBrassRingClubandtheemployeeRobertW.Flynnforactualandexemplarydamagesgrowingoutofanallegedassaultandbattery.Thejuryreturnedaverdictof$400foractualdamagesand$500inpunitivedamages.Thetrialcourtrenderedjudgmentforthedefendantnotwithstandingtheverdict.(JNOV)TheplaintiffappealedandtheCourtofCivilAppealsaffirmed.
Facts:
AtaprofessionalconferenceheldinDefendant'
shotel,oneofDefendant'
semployeesforciblyremovedaplatefromthePlaintiff'
shand,shoutingthata"
Negrocouldnotbeservedintheclub"
.Defendant'
semployeedidnotmakephysicalcontactwithPlaintiff,buttheeventwaswitnessedbymanyofPlaintiff'
scolleagues.
Issue:
1.Whilethedefendantdidn’tdoanyphysicalharmtotheplaintiff’sbodybutsnatchedanobjectfromhishands,whetheranactionablebatterywascommitted?
2.WhetherthedefendantsmustrespondinexemplaryaswellasactualdamagesforthemaliciousconductofFlynn?
Holding:
1.Yes.
2.Yes.
Reasons:
1.Thedispossessionofanobjectfromone’shandinanoffensivemannerisactuallyunwantedandintentionalinvasionofone'
sperson(anoffensetohisdignity),thusconstitutesabattery.
2.Aprincipalormasterisliableforexemplaryorpunitivedamagesbecauseofhisagentiftheagentwasemployedinamanagerialcapacityandwasactinginthescopeofemployment.Inthiscase,FlynnwasthemanageroftheBrassRingClubandwasactingwithinthecourseandscopeofhisemployment.
Thetrialcourterredinoverrulingthatmotionandinenteringjudgmentforthedefendantsnotwithstandingtheverdict;
andtheCourtofCivilAppealserredinaffirmingthejudgment.Thejudgmentsbelowarereversedandjudgmentishererenderedfortheplaintifffor$900withinterestfromthedateofthetrialcourt’sjudgmentandforcostsofthissuit.
c)Falseimprisonment
anactoromissiontoactofthedefendantthatconfinesorrestrainstheplaintifftoaboundedarea.
ii.Elements(3)
unlawfulandunconsenteddetentionoftheplaintiffwithinboundaries
toconfinetheplaintiff,omissionorarbitrarily
Confine:
useofunreasonableforce,threatofforceorassertionoflegalauthorityofthedefendant,andharmtotheplaintifforknowledgebytheplaintiffoftheconfinement,bothphysicallyandmentally
Aboundedarea:
apparentlackofareasonableexit
e.g.theshopownermistakenlyshutsomebodydownintheshopwhenhethoughtthereisnobodythere→falseimprisonment
iii.Defense——Shopliftingrule
a)Definition:
Shopkeepershaveaprivilegetodetainsuspectedthiefforinvestigation,whichmaynegateoneoftheelementsoffalseimprisonment.
b)Elements:
(4)
reasonablebelief:
believetheplaintiffwasasuspectedthief
reasonableperiod:
thedetentionisonlyforareasonabletime
reasonablemanner:
onlyreasonableforcewasused()
reasonablepurpose:
forreasonableinvestigation
Case16MariusS.Coblynv.Kennedy’sInc.
aftershoppinginDefendant’sstore,Plaintiff,a70-year-oldman,wasleavingwhenDefendantstoppedhim.DefendantthoughtPlaintiffwasattemptingtostealanascot.Asaresult,PlaintiffwashospitalizedandsuedDefendantforfalseimprisonment..
1.Doesrestraintofpersonalliberty,byfearofapersonaldifficulty,amounttoafalseimprisonment?
2.IfPlaintiffwasfalselyimprisoned,wastheimprisonmentprivileged?
1.Yes
2.No
1.Anygeneralrestraintissufficienttoconstituteanimprisonment.Anydemonstrationofphysicalpower,which,toallappearances,canbeavoidedonlybysubmission,operatesaseffectuallytoconstituteanimprisonment.Inthiscase,GossfirmlygraspedPlaintiff’sarmandtoldhimthathehadbettergobacktoseethemanager.TherewasanotheremployeestandingnexttoGoss.ConsideringPlaintiff’sageandheartcondition,itishardlyexpectedthatPlaintiffcoulddoanythingbutcomplywithGoss’s“request”thathegobackandseethemanager.Ifamanisrestrainedofhispersonallibertybyfearofapersonaldifficulty,thatmeansifPlaintiffleftbeforeexoneratinghimself,theonlookersmighthaveinterpretedhisdepartureasanadmissionofguilt,sothatamountstoafalseimprisonment.
2.Defendant,ashopkeeper,hasaprivilegetodetainPlaintiffifdetainedinareasonablemanner,forareasonablelengthoftime,andifDefendanthadreasonablegroundsforbelievingthatPlaintiffwasattemptingtocommitlarcenyofgoodsheldforsale.Inthiscase,itisconcededthatPlaintiffwasheldforareasonablelengthoftime.However,Defendant’sdetentionofPlaintiffwasnotperformedinareasonablemanner.TherewerenoreasonablegroundsforbelievingthatPlaintiffwascommittinglarcenyand,therefore,heshouldnothavebeendetainedatall.Furthermore,Goss’sfailuretoidentifyhimselfasanemployeeofDefendant,coupledwiththephysicalrestraintinapublicplaceimposeduponPlaintiff,anelderlyman,whohadexhibitednoaggressiveintentiontodepart,couldbesaidtoconstituteanunreasonablemethodbywhichtoeffectdetention.
Plaintiffwasimprisonedbyademonstrationofphysicalpowerthatcouldonlybeavoidedbysubmission.PlaintiffwasfalselyimprisonedandDefendantwasnotprivilegedtodetainPlaintiff.Defendantdidnothaveanyobjective,reasonablegroundsforbelievingthatPlainti