Tort Law

by Weir, Tony

• ISBN13: 9780199249985
• ISBN10: 0199249989
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2002-07-18
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

This new addition to the Clarendon Law Series offers a clear exposition of the modern Law of Tort and addresses all heads of the subject. It provides both a succinct and thoughtful overview for those coming to Tort for the first time (e.g. as pre-course reading) and also pulls together themesand raises thought-provoking insights and synergies for those reading it after completing the course. Tony Weir presents both in-depth discussion and thorough analysis of recent cases and trends, notably in areas such as:- liability of public authorities for child abuse- impact of the Human Rights Act- privacy- liability of police

Author Biography

Mr Tony Weir is Reader in Law, Fellow and Director of Studies at Trinity College, Cambridge. He is also the author of A Casebook on Tort, 9/e (S & M 2000).

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
Table of Cases	xi
Table of Statutes	xxi
Abbreviations	xxiii
Introduction	1	(28)
Development	3	(2)
Tort and contract	5	(1)
Statute and judge-made law	6	(5)
When is conduct tortious?	11	(1)
The forum	12	(1)
Focal points	12	(7)
Where torts happen	19	(1)
Human and other bodies	20	(7)
Number of claimants	27	(2)
Negligence	29	(26)
The duty question	29	(4)
Foreseeability	33	(1)
Proximity	34	(1)
Assumption of responsibility	35	(5)
Fair, just, and reasonable	40	(2)
Property damage and personal injury	42	(2)
Purely economic harm	44	(3)
Psychiatric harm	47	(4)
Less serious upset	51	(1)
Omissions	52	(2)
Level of duty	54	(1)
Breach of Duty	55	(12)
Different duties	56	(1)
The test of reasonableness	56	(2)
Relevant factors	58	(8)
Identification of the breach	66	(1)
Causation	67	(18)
Contribution	68	(5)
Harm eclipsed?	73	(1)
Probabilities	74	(2)
Avoidance of liability for consequences	76	(1)
Remoteness	77	(2)
Novus actus interveniens	79	(3)
Purpose	82	(3)
Strict Liability	85	(10)
Common law	85	(1)
Statutory liability	86	(1)
Product liability	87	(2)
Inexplicit statutes	89	(2)
Statutory offences	91	(2)
Statutory duties	93	(1)
Remoteness	93	(2)
Vicarious Liability	95	(12)
Vicarious liability	95	(1)
Employees and other contractors	96	(1)
Non-contractors	97	(1)
Agents	97	(1)
Joint enterprise/partnership	98	(1)
Basic rules	98	(1)
Who is an employee?	99	(1)
Whose employee?	100	(1)
Course of employment	100	(1)
Other grounds of employer's liability	101	(3)
Exclusion of vicarious liability?	104	(1)
Does the liability of the employer entail that of the employee?	105	(2)
Contribution Between Tortfeasors	107	(7)
Contributory Negligence	114	(9)
Third parties	116	(2)
The Act inapplicable	118	(1)
Further observations	118	(1)
Mitigation of damage	119	(1)
Other defences	119	(1)
Consent	120	(1)
Illegality	121	(2)
Trespass	123	(15)
Trespass and negligence	123	(1)
The difference in functions	123	(2)
The protected rights	125	(3)
Defences	128	(6)
Consent	134	(1)
Necessity	135	(1)
The right to trespass	136	(1)
The rights of trespassers	136	(2)
Nuisance	138	(15)
Remedies	139	(1)
Parties	139	(1)
Earth	140	(1)
Air	140	(2)
Fire	142	(1)
Water	142	(1)
Distinctions	143	(1)
Failure to act	144	(2)
Nature of the occupier's duty	146	(1)
Disamenity	147	(1)
The Human Rights Act 1998	147	(1)
Common law: disamenity	148	(2)
Landlord and tenant	150	(1)
`Coming to the nuisance'	151	(1)
Administrative and legislative authorization	151	(2)
Conversion	153	(8)
Title to sue	155	(2)
Liability of others	157	(1)
Remedies	158	(1)
Length of protection	159	(2)
Defamation	161	(12)
What is defamatory?	162	(1)
The meaning of statements	163	(3)
`Publication'	166	(1)
Libel and slander	167	(1)
Defences	167	(1)
Truth	168	(1)
Privilege	169	(2)
Comment	171	(1)
Recent legislation	171	(1)
Concluding remarks	172	(1)
Economic Torts	173	(12)
Nature of the harm	174	(1)
The defendant's conduct	175	(1)
The defendant's purpose	176	(1)
The basic rule	176	(1)
Competition	177	(1)
Passing-off	178	(1)
Anti-competitive conduct	179	(1)
Inducing breach of contract	180	(1)
The various torts	181	(2)
In conclusion	183	(2)
Damages	185	(18)
Compensation	185	(1)
Damage	186	(1)
Economic harm	186	(6)
Payment of damages	192	(2)
Fatal accident claims	194	(3)
Property damage	197	(2)
Aggravated damages	199	(1)
Punitive damages	200	(3)
Other Systems	203
Motor Insurers Bureau	203
Criminal injuries	204
Other schemes	206
Ombudsmen	206