Introduction to Torts and Occupiers' Liability
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Questions and Answers

What is the classic, judicially recognised definition of tort?

Tortious liability arises from the breach of a duty primarily fixed by law; such duty is towards persons generally and its breach is redressable by an action for unliquidated damages.

What is the most common type of remedy sought in tort actions?

  • Restitution
  • Specific performance
  • Injunction
  • Damages (correct)
  • What are some examples of tortious liability?

    Personal injury, professional negligence, nuisance, etc.

    The importance of establishing some form of "duty" is key to establish tortious liability.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Tort is a branch of public law.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The state will usually instigate a prosecution for a tort.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Tort and criminal law never overlap.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Tort and contract are based on the same foundation of obligation.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the four possible objectives of a tort action identified by Glanville Williams?

    <p>Appeasement, justice, deterrence and compensation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The aims of the law of tort are the same for all torts.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are some potential negative consequences of litigation regarding the role of public policy?

    <p>Floodgates argument; compensation culture; discouraging socially beneficial activities.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does section 1 of the Compensation Act 2006 state about courts considering steps a defendant might have taken?

    <p>Courts may have regard to whether a requirement to take such steps might prevent a desirable activity from being undertaken or discourage persons from undertaking functions in connection with a desirable activity.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    To establish a claim in tort, the claimant is always required to prove the defendant had a particular state of mind.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    It is always necessary to prove damage to establish a claim in tort.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Trespass requires proof of damage.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Torts (Interference with Goods) Act 1977 codified common law trespass to goods.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    A direct act in trespass is when a log strikes someone after being thrown, while an indirect act is when a log lies on a path and someone trips over it.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In trespass to the person, intent is no longer a requirement after Stanley v Powell [1891] 1 QB 86.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Trespass to land is committed when a person enters or remains on land in the possession of another with permission or lawful authority.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The claimant in trespass to land must have exclusive possession of the land.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Intention in trespass to land can never be inferred from conduct.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The airspace above and the subsoil below property, to a reasonable extent, are included in the legal definition of "Land" for trespass claims.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Air Navigation Act 1982 states that no action can be brought in trespass or nuisance, by reason only of the flight of an aircraft over any property at a height above the ground which is reasonable, given wind and weather conditions.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Necessity can be a legal defense in trespass to land where the force used is the minimum necessary to preserve life.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Assault is an intentional act that threatens violence or produces in the victim a reasonable expectation of immediate unlawful force.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    There is no claim for assault where the claimant knows that the threat of violence cannot be carried out.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Battery is the direct and intentional application of force to another person without consent.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    False imprisonment involves the complete restriction of the complainant's freedom of movement without lawful excuse or justification.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The tort of false imprisonment is only committed when a claimant is locked in a room or building.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of these is a valid defense for assault?

    <p>Consent</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a valid defense to false imprisonment?

    <p>Reasonable alternative route</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the rule in Wilkinson v Downton?

    <p>This rule establishes the tort of intentional infliction of emotional distress.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The rule in Wilkinson v Downton requires proof of damage or harm.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Protection from Harassment Act 1997 has significantly weakened the rule in Wilkinson v Downton.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How many elements are required to establish a claim under the rule in Wilkinson v Downton?

    <p>Three</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Occupiers' Liability is primarily based on statutory provisions.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Occupiers' Liability Acts primarily adopt the common law principle of negligence.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Occupiers' Liability Acts cover injuries caused due to the state of the premises, but do not cover injuries caused by activities on the premises.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Occupiers' Liability Act 1957 defines 'premises' very narrowly, excluding any buildings or structures.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The concept of 'occupancy duties' originated from the case of Meering v Graham-White Aviation Co Ltd [1919] A.C. 295.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Damage caused by activities on the premises falls under the common law principle of negligence.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Determining who is the 'occupier' is a straightforward process.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Control of a premise can only be held by one person at a time.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following categories are identified in the context of visitor classification?

    <p>All of the above</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The common law owed the same standard of care to all types of visitors.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The 'allurement' concept aimed to protect child trespassers.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Occupiers Liability Act 1957 eliminated the distinction between 'invitees' and 'licensees' originally established in the common law.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Occupiers' Liability Act 1957 imposes a duty of care to ensure that visitors are safe while on the premises.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The occupier must ensure that the premises are safe for all intended purposes of visitors.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The common duty of care under the 1957 Act is based on the same principles as negligence law.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Occupiers' Liability Act 1957 requires warnings to be sufficient to enable the visitor to be reasonably safe.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Occupiers are always responsible for the negligence of independent contractors working on their premises.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Occupiers have no duty of care towards those entering under a right conferred by law.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Occupiers are always required to take 'due care' towards contractual entrants under the 1957 Act.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Occupiers are not required to warn about hazards that are obvious to visitors.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Occupiers have no duty to warn visitors about dangers that are not immediately obvious, but about which they have knowledge of (or reasonable grounds to believe in), or might reasonably be expected to have knowledge of.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Occupiers' Liability Act 1957 requires occupiers to be prepared for children to be less careful than adults.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Parents are always legally responsible for a child's safety.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Occupiers' Liability Act 1957 does not apply to trespassers.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Under the 1984 Act, occupiers owe a duty of care only towards trespassers and non-visitors who are present at the property.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Occupiers owe a duty of care to trespassers only if they know or have reasonable grounds to believe that the risk exists.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Occupiers' Liability Act 1984 does not apply to persons on land pursuant to the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Occupiers owe a duty of care to trespassers and only when they have knowledge of, or reasonable grounds to believe that, a risk exists; the non-visitor is, or may come to be in the vicinity of the risk; and the risk is one which, in all the circumstances, he can reasonably offer some protection against.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The 1984 Act only applies to personal injury and does not cover property damage caused by trespassers.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Occupiers are obligated to warn trespassers about known dangers.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Trespassers are always responsible for their own safety.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    An occupier might avoid a duty of care towards a trespasser, for example, by discouraging people from entering the property.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Consent is a valid defense in Occupiers' Liability.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Contributory negligence is a valid defense to claims under the 1984 Act.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The tort of nuisance is a relatively new area of law.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The main types of nuisance are private, public, and statutory.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The rule in Rylands v. Fletcher deals with statutory nuisance.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Private nuisance involves a continuous, unlawful, and indirect interference with the use or enjoyment of land or some right over or in connection with it

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The continuous nature of the interference is not a key requirement for private nuisance.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The interference in private nuisance must be unlawful and unreasonable.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The claimant in a private nuisance action must have suffered legal harm through the interference.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Topic 1: Introduction & Intentional Torts

    • Tort is a breach of a duty fixed by law, resulting in unliquidated damages
    • Some examples include personal injury, professional negligence, and nuisance
    • Tort is a branch of civil law, with the claimant seeking compensation from the tortfeasor
    • Criminal law is a form of public law, where the state prosecutes the wrongdoer
    • Tort and criminal law can overlap, in concurrent liability and exemplary damages
    • Tort and contract both involve obligations, but the obligations differ
    • Tort obligations are imposed by law, while contract obligations arise from an agreement

    Topic 2: Occupiers' Liability

    • Occupiers' liability is primarily statute-based (Occupiers Liability Act 1957 and 1984)
    • It deals with injuries due to the state of premises
    • Premises are widely defined
    • Occupier duties are tied to the status of the entrant
    • Standards differ based on entrant type (contractual, invitee, licensee, trespasser)
    • Lawful visitors are owed a duty of care to ensure they will be reasonably safe
    • Special rules apply to children
    • Occupiers must take precautions which are reasonable
    • Defences, such as consent and contributory negligence, may apply

    Topic 3: Nuisance

    • Private nuisance involves continuous, unlawful, and indirect interference with land use
    • Winfield defines it as interfering with the enjoyment of land, property or rights over land
    • Involves consideration of factors like the claimant's sensitivity, the duration and intensity of the interference, and the character of the area.
    • Public nuisance affects a group of people, unlike private nuisance which affects individual land users.
    • Key difference between public and private nuisance is effect on a class.
    • Nuisance may also overlap with negligence issues in cases of unreasonable behaviour
    • Defenses include statutory authority, prescription, and consent

    Topic 4: Duty of Care & Breach of Duty

    • Negligence is the most significant tort

    • It covers personal injury, property damage, and economic loss

    • A duty of care must be established

    • Essential elements to establish liability for negligence

    • The objective standard is applied to the defendant’s conduct.

    • Magnitude and likelihood of harm are critical factors in determining if the standard was met

    • Professional and special skill cases have considerations, like the 'Bolam' test relevant to medical professionals.

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    Description

    This quiz covers the key concepts of tort law, including intentional torts and occupiers' liability. Participants will discover the distinctions between tort and criminal law, as well as the obligations imposed by each. Also, explore the intricacies of occupiers' duties and the legal standards applicable to different types of entrants.

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