DUTY (Inc. Special Duty)
BREACH
ACTUAL CAUSE
PROXIMATE CAUSE
DAMAGES
100
Reasonable Person Standard

A reasonable prudent person under the circumstances. Act the way a community is expected not as a typical/average person  

100

Negligence Per Se

(1)D violated a statue that was intended to prevent against the harm

(2) P was of protected persons for whom that statue was intended to provide protection

100

"But-For" Test

But for D’s misconduct, P would not have suffered the injury

100

Foreseeability Test

Whether the nature of the accident and harm that occurred was within the intended scope of risk that could exist

100

Compensatory 

make plaintiff whole (lost wages/earning capacities, medical expenses)

200

Child Standard

of others in like age, intelligence and experience *Exception* Child participating in an adult reserved activity that is ‘inherently dangerous’, then standard of RPS

200

Res Ipsa Loquitor 

nature of accident suggests it was negligence.

D had exclusive control over whatever cause the accident

 P lacks direct verdict evidence

200

Multiple Sufficient Independent Causes

causes are sufficient on their own to cause damages” as long as (1) party is negligent & could have caused damages on their own that party is liable

200

Substantial Factor Test

Whether the actors conduct has created a series of forces which are continuous and active operations up to the time of the harm or has created a situation harmless unless acted upon by other forces for which the actor is not responsible

200

Special Damages

= Economic

  • Lost wages/earnings capacity
  • Medical expenses
  • Property repairs
300

standard of physical disability/mental illness and higher skill?

Physical Disability = ‘RPS’ of similar disability

Mental Disability= RPS

Exceptional Skill/Knowledge = RPS + Higher Expectation

300

Grossly Negligent

(1) the defendant's conduct created an extreme risk of harm and 

(2) the defendant was aware of the extreme risk.

300

Alternative Liability

Liability (all parties need to be named): causes are sufficient on their own to cause damages-aware that it was one or the other and there is no evidence to prove who did it but hold both liable and shift burden to D’s to sort it out:

***Modified Alternative Liability:***

Market Share Manufactures will be held proportionally liable in accordance with their market share in the market of the good that caused the injury

300

Intervening Cause

D Liable?Foreseeability?Chain of Causation

D Liable: Yes

Foreseeable: Yes

Chain of Causation:  Not Broken


Comes into active operation; In producing the result; After defendant's negligent act; From a source independent of defendant's negligence.

300

General Damages

Damages = non-economic (no market value)

  • Pain & suffering
  • Emotional anguish/mental distress
  • Disfigurement/physical impairment disability
  • Loss of reputation, spousal/parental consortium
400

Increased Risk of Future Harm

No claims on future illness 

 would take away from legitimate claims on actual harm

400

Superseding Cause

D Liable?Foreseeability?Chain of Causation

D Liable: NO

Foreseeable: NO

Chain of Causation:   Broken

D Liable: Yes

Foreseeable: Yes

Chain of Causation:  Not Broken


creates a fatal kink in the causation, and no way we could have known this is foreseeable.

400

Wrongful Death Statue

Provides for recovery by certain statutory beneficiaries (usually immediate family)

To compensate for their losses associated with the death of their loved ones.

Ie:. Covers harm to others beginning now of the victim's death.

Damages include:

Lost earning capacity

Love support and care

Mental and emotional pain & suffering

Loss of consortium

Lost inheritance

500

Loss of Chance

: D’s negligence more likely than not “increased the harm” to the P or “destroyed a substantial possibility” of achieving a favorable outcome.

500

"Need to Know's"

Direct Test/Eggshell Plaintiff/ Shabby Millionaire 

Eggshell Plaintiff Rule: a negligent tortfeasor takes his victim as he finds him


Direct Cause Test -(not used) “direct connection” between D’s negligent act and the harm to P without too many intervening causes


Shabby Millionaire Rule: liable in civil court for damages resulting from the plaintiff's loss of income—no matter how much that income was.

500

Survival Statutes

Claim survives for the benefit of the estate.

Claim is owned by the state of the descendent

Provided for recovery for damages suffered by decedent from time of the tort until his death.

Damages might include:

Pain and suffering

Medical expenses

Lost wages