Torts Outline

Lyons
Torts
Fall 2012
 
 
 
Intentional Torts
A)    Concepts
1.      Transferred Intent
a.       Intent to commit any intentional tort to affect/harm other is sufficient for establishing any other IT
I.                   If purposeful & reasonable à not liable
II.                Unwarranted force à liable
2.      Respondeat Superior—vicarious liability for employer
I.                   An employer is generally liable for the tortious conduct of its employee that is within the scope of employment
PUNITIVE DAMAGES IF: 1) Master authorized act 2) Agent unfit & Master reckless in employing
            3) agent in managerial capacity & acting in scope of employment 4) employer/manager ratified act
B)    Battery
 
1.      Intentional act w/ substantial certainty that harmful contact will occur
2.      Contact
a.       includes clothing & extension of self/held objects
3.      Harmful or offensive contact occurs
4.      No privilege or consent—doesn’t matter if asleep or unconscious
Precedents
I.                   Intent to contact suffices to reasonable person
II.                Must intend for offensive/harmful contact
Harmful Contact
 
1)      Acts/apprehension of harmful or offensive contact
2)      Harmful contact occurs
–          Offensive Contact
1)      Act/apprehension of harmful/offensive contact
2)      Offensive contact directly/indirectly results
Remember: Law does not permit recovery for overly sensitive π
 
C)    Assault
 
1.      Act intending harmful/offensive contact or apprehension of harm/off contact to other or third person
2.      Thereby put into apprehension
Remember
I.                   Conditional Threats in the Future? NO || Present inability? NO
II.                Conditional Threats & imminent apprehension? YES
 
 
 
D)    False Imprisonment
 
1.      He acts intending to confine another within fixed boundaries (accidental confinements not actionable)
2.      Act directly/indirectly results in confinement—if π can exit with minimal inconvenience, no tort
3.      Other is conscious OR is harmed by confinement
Defense
I.                   Shopkeeper’s Defense—right of owner to recapture property
 
1.      Willful detention
2.      Without consent
3.      Without authority of law
 
 
Requirements:
a)      Belief of theft
b)      Reasonable Detention Time
c)      Reasonable Detention Manner
 
 
 
E)     Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress
 
1.                  Conduct that is intentional OR reckless
2.                  Conduct that is extreme and outrageous
3.                  A causal connection between the conduct and the emotional distress
4.                  The emotional distress must be severe (show physical manifestations/medical aid)
Remember à 1) ∆ desires emotional distress 2) ∆ knows w/ subst. cert. ED 3) reckless disregard that ED will occur
1.      If reasonable persons differàjury
2.      Special rule—common carriers held to a higher standard—requirements relaxed a bit NO bystander (very limited)
F)     Trespass To Land
 
1. Intentionally
2. Interfere with owner’s right of control (mere intent to contact here, even if reasonable mistake)
a.       Entering
b.      Placing something
c.       Leaving something
d.      Staying
 
G)    Trespass To Chattels
 
1.      Intentionally (just a taking)
2.