Tort Law Duty Quiz

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Questions and Answers

Which of the following relationships establishes a duty by default?

  • Customer to store owner
  • Doctor to patient (correct)
  • Stranger to stranger
  • Teacher to student

Tort law remains static and does not change over time.

False (B)

What are the three factors the court considers when determining the existence of a duty?

Reasonable foreseeability of harm, proximity of relationship, and fairness.

The test used to determine a breach of duty is called the test of the _________.

<p>reasonable person</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the duty relationships with their appropriate examples.

<p>Solicitor = Client Doctor = Patient Driver = Another driver Employer = Employee</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a consideration when establishing a duty?

<p>Past relationships (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

A claimant has no legal standing if a duty situation has not been recognized by the courts.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of the reasonable person standard in breach of duty cases?

<p>To evaluate the actions of the defendant against what an average person would do.</p> Signup and view all the answers

In tort law, a claimant must demonstrate that the harm was _______ likely to occur as a result of the defendant's actions.

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

What is the third test established by the House of Lords in the context of imposing a duty of care?

<p>'Fair, just and reasonable' (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Liability in negligence can be imposed without considering the fairness of the situation.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the two main tests established in Caparo before the third test is applied?

<p>Foreseeability and proximity</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the case of soldiers in combat, it was decided that they could not sue for negligence due to ________ decisions.

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

Match the following concepts with their descriptions:

<p>Foreseeability = The ability to predict potential loss Proximity = The closeness of the relationship between the parties Duty of care = A legal obligation to ensure the safety of others Novel situations = New scenarios where the duty of care is considered</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of harm did Claire suffer in the road traffic incident?

<p>Personal injury and property damage (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Claire was wearing her seatbelt during the accident.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who is considered liable for the accident involving Claire?

<p>Patrick and his employers</p> Signup and view all the answers

Negligence can be said to amount to __________.

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

Match the following terms to their definitions:

<p>Duty of Care = Responsibility to avoid careless actions Breach = Failure to meet a standard of care Causation = Link between the breach of duty and the damage Compensation = Payment to the claimant for losses suffered</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following injuries did Claire NOT suffer from the accident?

<p>Neck injury (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the aim of tort law in cases like Claire's?

<p>To compensate the claimant</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the first element of the tort of negligence?

<p>Duty of care (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The doctrine of precedent means that a decision on duty of care can impact future cases involving similar relationships.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What leading case established the duty of care in tort?

<p>Donoghue v Stevenson (1932)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The __________ principle states that one must take reasonable care to avoid acts or omissions that could foreseeably harm their neighbor.

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

Match the legal concepts with their descriptions:

<p>Duty of Care = A legal obligation to ensure the safety of others Foreseeability = The ability to predict potential harm or danger Causation = Establishing a direct link between actions and damage Breach of Duty = Failure to meet the standard of care expected</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes liability in tort?

<p>You are liable only for the damage you have caused. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

If a defendant does not owe a claimant a duty of care, the claimant's case must succeed.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the law typically approach the issue of breach, causation, and defense in cases of duty of care?

<p>These issues are not considered if the duty of care is deemed non-existent.</p> Signup and view all the answers

A manufacturer owes a duty to the consumer to take __________ care in the preparation of products.

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

Match the legal terms to how they are commonly perceived in a duty of care context:

<p>Striking Out = Dismissal of a case for no cause of action Ratio = The principle established by a court's decision Judgements = Decisions made based on legal arguments Precedent = A prior ruling that influences future cases</p> Signup and view all the answers

What legal principle allows liability for both acts and omissions?

<p>Neighbour Principle (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

There is a general duty to save a drowning child.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the case of Barrett v Ministry of Defence, what caused Barrett's death?

<p>He choked on his own vomit.</p> Signup and view all the answers

The defendants may be liable if they put themselves in a position where they should have acted positively. This is referred to as having assumed ____________ for the claimant.

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

Match the following cases with their legal principles:

<p>Home Office v Dorset Yacht = Liability for omissions in custodial situations Smith v Littlewoods = Liability for failure to prevent harm through action Barrett v Ministry of Defence = Vicarious liability for negligence of others Neighbour Principle = Liability for acts or omissions</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a key problem for claimants when obvious defendants are not worth suing?

<p>The claimants must find someone with sufficient funds. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The court decided that Barrett was responsible for his own actions until he became drunk.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is one huge exception to the rule of no liability for pure omissions?

<p>Where defendants have assumed responsibility for the claimant.</p> Signup and view all the answers

The leading cases in liability for negligence by omission include Home Office v Dorset Yacht and _____________.

<p>Smith v Littlewoods</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which scenario illustrates liability through omission?

<p>A person ignores a car accident without calling for help. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Negligence

A legal concept where a person or entity is held responsible for harm caused due to their carelessness or failure to act with reasonable care.

Duty of Care

The legal responsibility to take care and avoid causing harm to another person.

Breach of Duty

An action or omission that falls below the standard of care expected from a reasonable person in a similar situation.

Causation

The harm or injury that results from a breach of duty.

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Claim for Damages

The claimant's right to seek compensation for damages suffered due to negligence.

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Compensation

A financial award to compensate a claimant for their injuries, losses, and expenses.

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Defendant

The party responsible for causing the harm or damage due to negligence.

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Special Relationship

A type of legal relationship where one party has a responsibility to act in a particular way towards the other party due to their connection.

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Solicitor-Client Relationship

A legal relationship where a solicitor has a duty to act in the best interests of their client and provide competent legal advice.

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Doctor-Patient Relationship

A legal relationship where a doctor has a duty to provide their patients with appropriate medical care and treat them with skill and care.

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Driver-Driver Relationship

A legal relationship where drivers have a duty to drive safely and take reasonable care to avoid causing harm to other road users.

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Employer-Employee Relationship

A legal relationship where an employer has a duty to provide their employees with a safe working environment and take reasonable care of their health and safety.

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Developing Duty Situations

The legal principle that courts can recognize new duty situations based on evolving social and political contexts.

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Reasonable Foresight, Proximity, Fairness, and Justness

A test used by courts to determine whether a duty of care exists in a new situation where there is no established precedent.

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Reasonable Person Test

A legal standard used to determine whether a defendant has breached their duty of care by failing to act as a reasonably prudent person would in similar circumstances.

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Caparo Test

In negligence cases, a legal test used to determine if a duty of care exists. It involves determining whether the harm was foreseeable, the parties had a close relationship, and it's fair, just and reasonable to impose liability.

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Fair, Just and Reasonable

A legal principle established in the Caparo case, which states that a duty of care will only be imposed in novel situations if it is fair, just and reasonable to do so.

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Proximity

The degree of closeness or connection between parties in a negligence case. A close relationship is needed to establish a duty of care.

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Foreseeability

The likelihood of the harm happening. This element is crucial for establishing a duty of care in negligence cases.

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Policy Considerations

In negligence cases, policy considerations can influence whether a duty of care exists, even if the foreseeability and proximity tests are met.

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Liability for Omission

A legal principle where a person can be held responsible for not taking action to prevent harm, even if they didn't directly cause the harm.

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No General Duty to Rescue

A legal principle where a person is not usually held responsible for failing to help someone in danger, even if they could have.

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Assumed Responsibility

The legal exception to the general rule of no duty to rescue, arising when a defendant assumes a responsibility for the safety of another.

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Liability for Acts or Omissions

The legal principle that one can be held responsible for both actions that cause harm and failures to act that cause harm.

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Home Office v Dorset Yacht

A landmark case in which the Home Office was held liable for the failure of their employees to prevent damage caused by borstal boys.

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Barrett v Ministry of Defence

A case where the Ministry of Defence was held liable for the death of a naval airman due to their employees' failure to act.

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Vicarious Liability

The legal principle where a person can be held responsible for the actions of others if they are in a position of authority or control.

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Creating a Situation of Danger

A situation where the defendant's actions, even if not directly causing the harm, still created the conditions that allowed the harm to occur.

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Duty of Care for Omissions

The legal principle that a person must act reasonably to prevent harm to others, even if they didn't directly cause the danger.

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Neighbour Principle: Acts & Omissions

The 'neighbour principle' from Donoghue v Stevenson, extended to include liability for both acts and omissions.

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Liability

A legal principle that determines who is responsible for a certain loss or damage, based on the actions or omissions of the responsible party.

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Striking Out

When a court completely dismisses a claim because the case lacks legal foundation. This often happens when a duty of care isn't established between parties.

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Doctrine of Precedent

Legal precedents set by previous court decisions are used to help judges make decisions in similar cases. These decisions establish legal guidelines.

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Reading Judgements

Carefully reading a legal judgment is crucial for understanding the reasoning and logic behind it, especially when dealing with the duty of care.

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Donoghue v Stevenson

The landmark case that established the foundation for duty of care in negligence law. It concerned a consumer harmed by a defective product.

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Donoghue v Stevenson - Narrow Ratio

The narrow ratio of Donoghue v Stevenson establishes a duty of care specifically between manufacturers and consumers of products.

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The Neighbour Principle

A fundamental principle stating that you owe a duty of care to anyone who might be affected by your actions, as long as you can reasonably foresee their presence.

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Impact of Duty of Care Decisions

A legal concept that emphasizes the importance of understanding how a decision in one case can affect a vast group of people in similar situations.

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Study Notes

Tort Law - Unit 1 Prep Notes

  • Road Traffic Incident - Advising Claire: Gather detailed information about the accident, including the time, location, events, and any injuries or damages.

  • Claire's Description: On September 18th, Claire was driving to work when a van, driven by Patrick (a carpet fitter), overtook another car, causing a collision. The impact caused whiplash, a concussion, a head injury, and damaged Claire's car and laptop, requiring her to stay off work for four weeks. Police reported the events.

  • Liability: Patrick, the van driver, and his employer (Carpets r Us) are possible defendants—Patrick for negligent driving and the employer for potential vicarious liability, arising from Patrick's actions during company hours.

  • Negligence: Negligence is carelessness, such that the claimant (Claire) can claim compensation from those responsible — the driver or the employer, or both, depending on the specifics of the event.

  • Compensation: This legal action aims to compensate Claire for injuries and financial losses, such as salary lost due to injury, as well as damages to her belongings/property (laptop).

  • Duty of Care: Legal responsibility established between two parties; in this instance, Patrick to Claire and his employer as a vicariously liable party.

  • Breach of Duty: Did Patrick act carelessly, falling below the required standard of a reasonably competent driver? Factors including following a safe speed, driving defensively, and safe overtaking procedures will be pertinent.

  • Causation: Were Patrick's actions the direct cause of Claire's injuries and damages? Was his actions the foreseeable cause of those damages?

  • Proximity and Foreseeability: These key components of determining a duty of care in negligence are pertinent. Foreseeability refers to if, in a reasonable manner, a person ought to have foreseen the events. Proximity refers to the relationship between Patrick and Claire.

  • Neighbour Principle: This principle determines if one person should anticipate the potential harm to others in their actions. Established by Donoghue v Stevenson, it acts as a threshold for determining duty of care in negligence cases.

  • Caparo Test: Used by the courts to assess modern negligence claims. This considers factors such as whether the damage was reasonably foreseeable in the specific circumstances, if there was a sufficiently close relationship between the claimant and defendant, and if it's 'fair, just and reasonable' to impose a duty of care in the particular scenario.

  • Omissions: The law frequently considers an individual's actions, or lack thereof, as a factor in the negligence analysis.

  • Imposing Liability for Omissions: General liability in negligence does not automatically exist simply due to the claimant suffering. Evidence suggests specific circumstances require careful assessment.

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