Negligence Flashcards
(136 cards)
foreseeable plaintiffs
Defendants owe a duty to foreseeable plaintiffs
including rescuers who are per se foreseeable plaintiffs
duty
obligation
requiring conformity
to a standard of conduct protecting others
against unreasonable risk
where D engages in affirmative risk creating conduct there is a duty owed to a foreseeable plaintiff.
duty to aid
no affirmative duty to aid
except
conduct responsible for placing plaintiff in peril
or special relationship exists
or created reliance on promise to aid
Once Aid is Rendered
Once aid is undertaken, a duty to exercise due care arises as to subsequent conduct.
negligent omission
failure to do something a reasonable person would have done
stop at a stop sign.
A duty to act where conduct caused plaintiff to be in peril
Good Samaritan statutes
limits liability of rescuers providing aid
absent reckless or intentional wrongdoing
nonfeasance
gratuitous promise to render aid
A gratuitous promises to render aid
no duty to actually take the promised action
even if plaintiff relied on the promise to his detriment.
If D does attempt to render promised aid he is obliged to exercise reasonable care in doing so.
minority view D is liable for the complete failure to perform a gratuitous promise if P relied on the promise to his detriment (foregoing other aid)
duty to take affirmative action where a ‘special relationship’ exists
D has a duty to take affirmative action to benefit P where a special relationship exists from which D derives or occupies a position of power over the plaintiff
6 types of Special Relationships that trigger duty to care for P
- employer-employee during scope of employment
- common carrier and innkeeper-customer
- school-pupil
- parent-child
- business-patron
- jailer-prisoner
duty to control 3rd parties
no duty to control the conduct of third parties unless:
- a special relationship between D and the 3rd party giving rise to duty to control
- a special relationship exists between D and the 3rd party that gives the 3rd party a right of protection
parents duty to control a minor child
duty to exercise reasonable care to control a child to prevent intentional harm or create an unreasonable risk of harm if the parent:
1. knows he has the ability to control the child
and
2. knows of the necessity and opportunity for exercising control.
masters duty to control servant acting outside the scope of employment
A master has a duty to exercise reasonable care to control his servant to prevent the servant from intentionally harming others or creating an unreasonable risk of harm IF:
- The servant is upon the masters premises or on the premises the servant is privileged to enter or
- is using a chattel of the master AND
- the Master knows or has reason to know that he has the ability to control the servant AND
- knows or should know of the necessity and opportunity for exercising such control
employers duty of care in hiring
D employer has a duty to P to exercise reasonable care in hiring employees such that D may be liable if an employee subsequently injures P. As distinguished from vicarious liability for an employee’s torts, negligent hiring the employer is liable for his own negligence in hiring the employee and not vicariously liable for the wrongful conduct of the employee.
duty to warn of 3rd parties intent to do harm
where D has a special relationship with a 3rd party and becomes aware of the 3rd parties intent to do specific harm to an identified plaintiff, he has a duty to warn the plaintiff of the harm.
psychotherapist-patient
custodian-prisoner
list functions of government giving rise to duty to plaintiff
Proprietary
Discretionary
Ministerial
Proprietary Function of a Government Entity
government acting in an area traditionally occupied by private entities, the government is treated as any other defendant for purposes of determining a duty
Discretionary Activity of Government Entity
Government using judgement in allocating resources
NO duty
Ministerial Function of Government Activity
once government entity has undertaken an act,
it must do so non-negligently
Public Utility Doctrine
When a government agency fails provide an adequate response,
NO duty unless:
1. reliance on the response of the agency
2. special relationship between the plaintiff and the agency or
3. the agency has increased the danger
Special Rules of Courts:
Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress
Where injury is neither personal injury or property damage,
duty issues arise.
Courts are reluctant to allow liability for emotional distress and apply special rules for pure emotional distress claims.
*pain and suffering are not subject to the limitations placed on claims for pure emotional distress.
NIED - Direct Claims Requirements
to recover for NIED P must
- Be in Zone of Danger - area at risk of injury
AND - have a physical manifestation of the emotional distress*
*most jurisdictions
NIED
Zone of Danger and Physical Manifestation Requirement
EXCEPTIONS (2)
- transmitting a telegram announcing the death of a loved one
- mishandling of a corpse
Bystander NIED recovery factors (3)
- In the Zone of Danger
- suffered severe emotional distress resulting from observance of the accident and
- had a close relationship with the victim
derivative nature of bystander NIED claims
Recovery may be reduced proportionally if the injured party is found to be comparatively negligent