Study 5 Flashcards
(95 cards)
What is the key difference between Quebec and common law provinces?
Quebec relies on STATUTE, while common law uses PRECEDENT.
What causes liability in Quebec?
LIABILITY arises from a breach of OBLIGATION.
What’s the difference between CONTRACTUAL and EXTRA-CONTRACTUAL liability?
CONTRACTUAL liability is from a breach of a contract; EXTRA-CONTRACTUAL is from a breach of LAW.
What type of liability does Quebec law deal with?
Quebec law deals with both CONTRACTUAL and EXTRA-CONTRACTUAL liability.
What is the focus of this study?
The study explores DEFENCES against EXTRA-CONTRACTUAL liability in Quebec.
What does the Civil Code of Quebec say about defences for negligence?
Defendants have several DEFENCES, including denial, superior force, and voluntary assumption of risk.
What’s the key issue with CCQ Article 1474?
You can’t use a defence for GROSS FAULT like reckless or careless behaviour.
What’s the onus of proof in Quebec?
The PLAINTIFF must prove the facts of the lawsuit (Article 2803), but the DEFENDANT may have to prove they were NOT at fault.
What does Article 1459 say about liability for others’ actions?
A tutor must prove they didn’t commit a fault in supervising a minor (Article 1459).
What is the ‘denial’ defence?
The defendant can deny FAULT, INJURY, or the CAUSAL LINK between the two.
How can being ‘not endowed with reason’ help a defendant?
If a defendant doesn’t have reason (intellectual disability), they might avoid LIABILITY (Article 1462).
What is ‘superior force’ in Quebec?
Superior force (force majeure) refers to UNCONTROLLABLE events like natural disasters that can excuse LIABILITY (Article 1470).
What does voluntary assumption of risk mean?
If the victim knowingly accepts risk, they can still sue but LIABILITY is reduced based on circumstances (Article 1477).
What’s the deal with disclaimers?
If the plaintiff knew about a LIMITATION clause in a contract, the defendant might be off the hook (Articles 1475-1476).
How does the Good Samaritan defence work?
If you help someone in need, you’re usually exempt from LIABILITY unless you commit INTENTIONAL or GROSS FAULT (Article 1471).
What does Article 1478 say about contributory negligence?
If the victim’s own FAULT contributed, damages are shared based on each person’s responsibility (Article 1478).
How does joint and several liability work in Quebec?
If multiple people are at fault, each can be held fully responsible, and the plaintiff can sue anyone for full compensation (Article 1480).
What’s the effect of a gross fault in Quebec?
You can’t escape LIABILITY for GROSS FAULTS, such as intentional harm or extreme carelessness (Article 1474).
Can a defendant deny all fault in Quebec?
Yes, they can DENY FAULT if they followed the rules and didn’t cause harm.
What’s the significance of being ‘endowed with reason’ in Quebec law?
Only people ‘endowed with reason’ can be held LIABLE for their actions (Article 1462).
What’s the meaning of ‘presumption of fault’?
If the defendant is presumed at fault, they need to prove they weren’t (CCQ Articles 1459, 1465).
What type of events are considered ‘superior force’?
EVENTS like natural disasters, wars, or unforeseen equipment failures, which no one could prevent (Article 1470).
Does voluntary assumption of risk mean the plaintiff can’t sue at all?
Not at all! The plaintiff can still sue, but liability is reduced depending on their actions (Article 1477).
Can you limit liability with a disclaimer in Quebec?
You can try, but the injured party must be aware of the limitation when the contract was made (Article 1475).