Tort Law and Liability

  1. Elements of Tort Law
    1. Duty
      1. Standards of Care
        1. Reasonable Person Standard
          1. Application in Various Contexts
            1. Criticisms and Limitations
            2. Professional Standards
              1. Duty of Care in Professional Settings
                1. Variability by Profession
                2. Child Standards
                  1. Expectation of Care from Minors
                    1. Impact on Liability
                  2. Foreseeability
                    1. Assessing Foreseeable Risks
                      1. Impact on Duty
                        1. Case Examples and Tests for Foreseeability
                      2. Breach
                        1. Reasonable Person Standard
                          1. Definition and Role in Assessing Breach
                            1. Deviations from the Standard
                              1. Objective vs. Subjective Analysis
                              2. Violation of Statutory Duty
                                1. How Statutory Breach Establishes Negligence
                                  1. Examples of Statutory Duties
                                  2. Res Ipsa Loquitur
                                    1. Doctrine Explanation
                                      1. Circumstances for Application
                                        1. Burden of Proof Shift
                                      2. Causation
                                        1. Actual Cause (Cause in Fact)
                                          1. "But For" Test Explanation
                                            1. Substantial Factor Test
                                              1. Multiple Causes and Their Impact
                                              2. Proximate Cause (Legal Cause)
                                                1. Direct Consequences vs. Remote Effects
                                                  1. The Role of Intervening Causes
                                                  2. Chain of Causation
                                                    1. Breaking the Chain
                                                  3. Damages
                                                    1. Compensatory Damages
                                                      1. Economic Damages
                                                        1. Medical Expenses
                                                          1. Lost Wages
                                                          2. Non-Economic Damages
                                                            1. Pain and Suffering
                                                              1. Emotional Distress
                                                            2. Punitive Damages
                                                              1. Purpose and Justification
                                                                1. Standards for Awarding
                                                                  1. Criticisms and Controversies
                                                                  2. Nominal Damages
                                                                    1. Purpose and Instances of Use
                                                                      1. Symbolic Significance
                                                                      2. Aggravated Damages
                                                                        1. Explanation and Use
                                                                          1. Difference from Punitive Damages
                                                                          2. Mitigation of Damages
                                                                            1. Plaintiff's Duty to Mitigate
                                                                              1. Impact on Award Amount
                                                                          2. Types of Torts
                                                                          First Page
                                                                          4. Defenses to Tort Claims