Kionka's Black Letter Outline on Torts

Title Page
Copyright Page
Preface
Summary of Contents
Table of Contents
CAPSULE SUMMARY OF TORT LAW
PERSPECTIVE
PART ONE: INTRODUCTION
	I. General Considerations
		A. Overview of Tort Law
		B. The Definitional Dilemma
			1. What Is a Tort?
			2. No General Principle of Tort Liability
			3. Definition
			4. Fault
		C. Bases, Purposes and Functions of Tort Law
			1. Where Does Tort Law Come From?
			2. Functions or Goals of Tort Law
		D. Sources of Tort Law
		E. Historical Development of Tort Law
			1. Evolution of Tort Remedies
			2. Evolution of Theories of Liability
		F. The Roles of Judges and Juries
		G. Tortious Conduct
		H. Tort Duties and Contractual Duties
		I. Tort Law and Criminal Law
		J. Terms
			1. Injury
			2. Harm
			3. Physical Harm
			4. Conduct
			5. Subject to Liability
			6. Had Reason to Know
			7. Should Have Known
PART TWO: INTENTIONAL TORTS
	II. Liability Rules for Intentional Torts
		A. Intent
			1. Rule
			2. Proof of Intent
			3. Intent Distinguished From Motive
			4. Intentional Conduct Distinguished From Negligent or Reckless Conduct
			5. Children
			6. Mentally Incompetent Persons
			7. Transferred Intent
			8. Scope of Liability (Proximate Cause): The Extended Liability Principle
		B. Battery
			1. Rule
			2. Intent Required
			3. P’s Person
			4. P’s Awareness
			5. No Harm Intended?
			6. Harmful Contact
			7. Offensive Contact
			8. Consent
		C. Assault
			1. Rule
			2. Intent Required
			3. Apprehension
			4. Imminent
			5. Conditional Threat
		D. False Imprisonment
			1. Rule
			2. Intent
			3. Confinement
			4. P’s Knowledge
			5. Shoplifters
			6. Accessories
			7. Malicious Prosecution Distinguished
		E. Intentional or Reckless Infliction of Emotional Distress
			1. Rule
			2. D’s Conduct
			3. P’s Response
			4. Abuse of Power
			5. Conduct Directed at Third Persons
			6. Proximate Cause
			7. Transferred Intent
			8. First Amendment Limitations
			9. Mishandling of a Corpse
		F. Trespass to Land
			1. Rule
			2. Possession
			3. Intent
			4. Manner
			5. Damages
			6. Reckless or Negligent Intrusions
		G. Chattels
			1. Trespass to Chattels and Conversion
			2. Trespass to Chattels
			3. Conversion
			4. Trespass and Conversion Distinguished
		H. Review Questions
	III. Defenses to Liability for Intentional Torts: Privileges
		A. Privilege
			1. Introduction
			2. Other Defenses Distinguished
			3. Types
			4. Burden of Proof
			5. Mistake
		B. Consent
			1. In General
			2. Existence
			3. Apparent Consent
			4. Conduct
			5. Custom, Prior Relationship
			6. Capacity to Consent
			7. Implied Consent
			8. Scope of Consent
			9. Mistake, Ignorance, Misrepresentation
			10. Informed Consent
			11. Duress
			12. Revocation of Consent
			13. Consent to Crime
		C. Self–Defense and Defense of Others
			1. Self–Defense
			2. Defense of Third Persons
			3. Duty to Protect
		D. Defense and Recovery of Property
			1. Defense of Property
			2. Forcible Retaking of Chattels
			3. Repossession of Land
		E. Necessity
			1. Rule
			2. Public Necessity
			3. Private Necessity
			4. Scope of Privilege
		F. Authority of Law
			1. Rule
			2. Scope: Ministerial vs. Discretionary Acts
			3. Scope: Jurisdiction
			4. Types of Acts
			5. Use of Force
			6. Trespass ab Initio
		G. Discipline
			1. Children
			2. Military
			3. Ship’s Captain
		H. Review Questions
PART THREE: NEGLIGENCE
	IV. Negligence Liability Rules
		A. The Elements of the Negligence Cause of Action
		B. Characteristics of Negligent Conduct
			1. Definition
			2. Objective Test
			3. Care Required
			4. Attributes of the Reasonable Person
			5. Conduct in Emergencies
			6. Sudden Incapacity
			7. Anticipating Conduct of Others
			8. Failure to Warn or Instruct
			9. Negligent Entrustment
			10. Negligent Hiring, Retention, or Supervision
			11. Other Types of Negligent Conduct
			12. When Is a Risk “Unreasonable”?
			13. Judge and Jury
		C. Sources of Standards of Care
			1. Rules of Law
			2. Legislation
		D. Proof of Negligence
			1. Burden of Proof
			2. Presumptions
			3. Experts and Opinion Evidence
			4. Res Ipsa Loquitur
			5. Custom and Character
			6. Trade Rules and Standards
			7. D’s Own Rules and Standards
		E. Degrees of Negligence
			1. Degrees of Care
			2. Degrees of Negligence
		F. Reckless Conduct (“Willful and Wanton Misconduct”)
			1. Definition
			2. Distinguished From Negligent Conduct
			3. Distinguished From Intentional Torts
			4. When Required
			5. Effect
		G. Duty Concepts and General Limitations
			1. In General
			2. Relationship Between P and D
			3. Nature and Scope of the Risk
			4. Interest Invaded
			5. Misfeasance vs. Nonfeasance
		H. Duty: Tort and Contract
			1. Parties to the Contract
			2. Third Persons Not Parties to the Contract
		I. Review Questions
	V. Defenses to Negligence and Other Liability
		A. Contributory and Comparative Negligence
			1. Rule
			2. Burden of Proof
			3. Applicable Rules
			4. Effect of Plaintiff’s Contributory Fault
			5. Causal Relation
			6. Imputed Contributory Negligence
			7. P’s Negligent Failure to Exercise Control
		B. Last Clear Chance
			1. Discussion
			2. Operative Variables
			3. Rules
			4. Limited to Subsequent Negligence
			5. Effect of Comparative Negligence
		C. Assumption of Risk
			1. Rule
			2. Discussion
			3. Meanings of Term
			4. Contributory Negligence Distinguished
			5. Express Assumption of Risk
			6. Implied Assumption of Risk
		D. Statutes of Limitations and Repose
			1. Statutes of Limitations
			2. Statutes of Repose
			3. Notice of Claim Statutes
		E. Immunities
			1. Government and Its Employees: Sovereign Immunity
			2. Charities
			3. Spouses, Parents and Children
			4. Infants and Incompetents
		F. Preemption
		G. Review Questions
PART FOUR: CAUSATION
	VI. Causation
		A. Overview of Causation Issues
		B. Cause in Fact
			1. General Rule
			2. Proof
			3. Multiple Causes
			4. Concurrent Independent Tortfeasors, One Cause (Alternative Liability)
			5. Enterprise and Market Share Liability
			6. Liability for Reduced Chance
		C. Scope of Liability (Proximate Cause)
			1. General Principle
			2. Overview
			3. Unforeseeable or Remote or Indirect Consequences
			4. Intervening Cause
			5. Substantial Factor
		D. Review Questions
PART FIVE: SPECIAL LIABILITY RULES FOR PARTICULAR ACTIVITIES
	VII. Overview
	VIII. Owners and Occupiers of Land
		A. Persons Liable
			1. Possessor
			2. Others
		B. Persons Outside the Premises
			1. Rule
			2. Natural Conditions
			3. Adjacent Public Ways
			4. The Restatement (Third) of Torts
		C. Liability of Possessor of Land to Persons Entering the Premises
		D. Trespassing Adults
			1. Trespasser Defined
			2. General Rule
			3. The Restatement (Third) of Torts: Liability for Physical and Emotional Harm § 52
			4. Exceptions to the Common-law No-duty Rule
		E. Trespassing Children (“Attractive Nuisance” Doctrine)
			1. Discussion
			2. Rule
			3. General Duty of Reasonable Care
		F. Licensees and Invitees
			1. Licensee
			2. Invitee
			3. Duty to Licensees
			4. Duty to Invitees
			5. Other Privileged Entrants; Public Employees
			6. Recreational Entrants
		G. Rejection of Categories
			1. General Duty of Ordinary Care
			2. Expansion of Invitee Status
			3. The Restatement (Third) of Torts
		H. Lessors
			1. General Rule
			2. Exception: Latent Hazards
			3. Exception: Persons Outside the Premises
			4. Exception: Public Admission
			5. Exception: Retained Control
			6. Exception: Agreement to Repair
			7. Exception: Negligent Repairs
			8. Independent Contractors
			9. General Duty of Reasonable Care
			10. The Restatement (Third) of Torts
			11. Statutes
		I. Vendors and Vendees
			1. Vendors and Grantors
			2. Builder-Vendors
			3. Vendees and Other Transferees
		J. Review Questions
	IX. Products Liability
		A. Negligence
			1. Privity Limitations
			2. Persons Protected
			3. Types of Negligent Conduct
		B. Breach of Warranty
			1. Types of Warranties
			2. Strict Liability
			3. Limitations
			4. Privity
		C. Strict Tort Liability for Defective Products
			1. Rule
			2. Rationales for Strict Products Liability
			3. Products
			4. Elements of Plaintiff’s Claim
			5. Defect Unreasonably Dangerous
			6. Type of Harm
			7. Plaintiffs
			8. Proof of a Manufacturing Defect
			9. Defenses
			10. Defendants
			11. Nondelegable Duties
			12. Post-sale Duties
		D. Misrepresentation
		E. The Restatement (Third) of Torts: Products Liability
			1. New Standards for Different Types of Product Defects
			2. Prescription Drug and Medical Device Liability
			3. Acceptance by the Courts
		F. Review Questions
	X. Vicarious Liability
		A. Introduction
			1. General Rule
			2. Relationships Giving Rise to Vicarious Liability
		B. Employers and Employees (Master–Servant)
			1. Vicarious Liability
			2. When Is One an Employee?
			3. Scope of Employment
			4. Employees in Transit
			5. Frolic and Detour
			6. Intentional Torts
			7. Employer’s Liability
			8. Partnerships, Joint Ventures
			9. Employee’s Liability
			10. Concert of Action
		C. Independent Contractors
			1. General Rule
			2. Exception: Employer’s Own Negligence
			3. Exception: Nondelegable Duties
			4. Exception: Inherently Dangerous Work
			5. Collateral Negligence
			6. Liability to Contractor’s Employees
		D. Apparent Agency
		E. Review Questions
	XI. Employer’s Liability to Employees
		A. Common Law Duties of Employer to Employee
			1. Safe Place to Work
			2. Defenses
		B. Workers’ Compensation
			1. Workers’ Compensation Acts
			2. Railroad Employees
			3. Maritime Employees
		C. Retaliatory Discharge
		D. Review Questions
	XII. Automobiles
		A. Joint Enterprise
			1. Business Purpose
			2. Mutual Right of Control
			3. Effect
		B. Owner–Passenger
		C. Owner–Bailor
		D. Family Purpose Doctrine
		E. Consent Statutes
		F. Guest Passengers
		G. “No-fault” Auto Compensation Plans
		H. Review Questions
	XIII. Medical and Other Professional Negligence (“Malpractice”)
		A. Standard of Care
			1. Customary Practice = Standard of Care
			2. Specialists
			3. Locality Rule
			4. Non-medical Negligence of Health Care Providers
			5. Non–MD Health Care Professionals
		B. Proof of Negligence, Standard of Care, and Causation
			1. Expert Testimony
			2. Substitutes for Expert Testimony
		C. Informed Consent
			1. Rule
			2. Standard
		D. Statutory Remedies
		E. The “Medical Malpractice Crisis” and Tort Reform
	XIV. Nuisance
		A. Introduction
		B. Private Nuisance
			1. Definition
			2. Relation to Trespass to Land
			3. Basis of Liability
			4. Remedies
			5. Persons Liable
			6. Defenses
		C. Public Nuisance
			1. What Constitutes
			2. Public Right
			3. Remedies
			4. Concurrence of Remedies
		D. Review Questions
	XV. Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress
		A. Introduction
		B. The Impact Rule
		C. The Zone-of-Danger Rule
		D. The Bystander Rule: Emotional Harm Caused by Witnessing Injury to Another
			1. General Rule
			2. The Restatement (Third) of Torts
			3. Zone of Danger, Fear for Another’s Safety
		E. Proximate Cause Limitations
			1. Physical Manifestation Requirement
			2. “Eggshell Plaintiff” Rule Inapplicable
		F. Direct Victims
		G. Fear of Future Harm From Toxic Exposure
			1. Parasitic to Actual Physical Injury
			2. Actual Exposure but No Physical Harm
			3. Possible Exposure and No Physical Harm
		H. Review Questions
	XVI. Prenatal Harm
		A. Child Born Alive
			1. Injuries by Third Persons
			2. Injuries Caused by Mother’s Negligence
		B. Child Not Born Alive
		C. Damages for Unintended Children
			1. Wrongful Conception
			2. Wrongful Birth and Wrongful Life
		D. Review Questions
	XVII. Alcoholic Beverages
		A. Commercial Vendors of Alcohol
			1. Common Law Liability
			2. Dram Shop Acts
		B. Social Hosts
		C. Review Questions
	XVIII. Interference With Federal Constitutional Rights
		A. Persons Acting Under Color of State Law
		B. Federal Officers and Employees
		C. Review Questions
	XIX. Activities Causing Only Economic Harm
		A. In General
		B. Economic Loss Caused by Physical Harm to Another
		C. Negligent Misrepresentation
		D. Exceptions
			1. Negligent Performance of a Service
			2. Exercise of Public Right
PART SIX: STRICT LIABILITY
	XX. Strict Liability
		A. Strict Liability for Animals
			1. Trespassing Animals
			2. Other Harm Caused by Animals
		B. Strict Liability for Abnormally Dangerous Activities
			1. Rylands v. Fletcher: The Original Rule
			2. Rylands v. Fletcher: The Modern Rule
			3. Liability Limitations
		C. Review Questions
PART SEVEN: DAMAGES FOR PHYSICAL HARM
	XXI. Damages for Physical Harm
		A. Compensatory Damages
			1. General vs. Special Damages (R.2d § 904)
			2. Nominal Damages
			3. Damages for Personal Injury
			4. Pre–Existing Conditions
			5. Present Value
			6. Inflation
			7. Taxation
			8. Collateral Source Rule
			9. Limitations on Damages or “Caps”
			10. Mitigation (Avoidable Consequences)
			11. Seat Belts
		B. Consequential Damages
			1. Spouse (Loss of Consortium)
			2. Parents
			3. Medical Expenses
			4. Children
			5. Nature of Action
		C. Punitive Damages
			1. Basis
			2. Conduct Required
			3. Limitations
			4. Amount
			5. Vicarious Liability
			6. Constitutional Limitations
		D. Allocation Among Tortfeasors
			1. Multiple Tortfeasors
			2. Divisible Damages
			3. Indivisible Harm
			4. Settlement of P’s Claim(s)
			5. Contribution
			6. Non–Party Tortfeasors
			7. Indemnity
		E. Review Questions
PART EIGHT: SURVIVAL AND WRONGFUL DEATH
	XXII. Survival and Wrongful Death
		A. Survival of Tort Actions
			1. Common Law Rule
			2. Statutory Modifications
			3. Personal Injury Actions
			4. Compensatory Damages
			5. Punitive Damages
			6. Medical, Funeral and Burial Expenses
			7. Defenses
		B. Wrongful Death
			1. Common Law Rule
			2. Statutory and Other Modifications
			3. Basis
			4. Types of Statutes
			5. Concurrence of Remedies
			6. Beneficiaries
			7. Damages
			8. Defenses
		C. Procedure
			1. Survival Actions
			2. Wrongful Death Actions
		D. Review Questions
PART NINE: NON–PHYSICAL HARM: MISREPRESENTATION, DEFAMATION, AND PRIVACY
	XXIII. Misrepresentation
		A. Introduction
			1. In General
			2. Basis
		B. Deceit
			1. Elements
			2. Scienter
			3. Form of Representation
			4. Scope of Liability
			5. Contributory Negligence
			6. Justifiable Reliance
			7. Damages
			8. Physical Harm
		C. Negligent Misrepresentation
			1. Discussion
			2. Physical Harm
			3. Pecuniary Loss
			4. Scope of Liability
			5. Contributory Negligence
			6. Damages
		D. Innocent Misrepresentation (Strict Liability)
			1. Physical Harm: Products
			2. Pecuniary Loss: Sale, Rental, or Exchange Transaction
		E. Review Questions
	XXIV. Defamation
		A. General Rules
			1. Elements of Cause of Action
			2. What Is Defamatory?
			3. Truth
			4. Who May Be Defamed
			5. Meaning of Communication
			6. Application to P
			7. Group Defamation
			8. Types of Defamatory Communications
		B. Libel and Slander
			1. Libel and Slander Distinguished (R.2d § 568)
			2. Defamation Actionable Without Proof of Special Damage
		C. Publication
			1. Definition
			2. Fault
			3. Agent
			4. Multiple Publications (R.2d § 577a)
			5. Wills
			6. Liability of Republisher
			7. Causation: Liability of Original Publisher for Republication
		D. Fault
			1. Common Law
			2. First Amendment
			3. Public Official, Public Figure
			4. Private Persons
		E. Defenses to Actions for Defamation
			1. Consent
			2. Absolute Privileges
			3. Conditional or Qualified Privileges
			4. Special Types of Privilege
		F. Damages
			1. Types Recoverable
			2. Nominal Damages
			3. General Damages (R.2d § 621)
			4. Special Damages
			5. Emotional Distress and Bodily Harm
			6. Punitive Damages
			7. Mitigation
			8. Right of Reply
		G. Review Questions
	XXV. Privacy
		A. Introduction
		B. Appropriation
			1. Rule
			2. Commercial Use
			3. Appropriation
		C. Intrusion
			1. Rule
			2. Form
			3. Publication
			4. Private Matters
			5. Substantial Interference
			6. Governmental Intrusion
		D. Public Disclosure of Private Facts
			1. Rule
			2. Publicity
			3. Private Facts
			4. Legitimate Public Concern or Interest
		E. False Light in the Public Eye
			1. Rule
			2. Relation to Defamation
			3. Highly Offensive
			4. Constitutional Limitations
		F. Privileges
		G. Damages
		H. Persons Who May Sue
		I. Review Questions
APPENDICES
	Appendix A. Answers to Review Questions
	Appendix B. Practice Examination
	Appendix C. A Suggested Analysis of the Practice Examination Questions
	Appendix D. Glossary
	Appendix E. Text Correlation Chart
	Appendix G. Index