INTRODUCTION TO LAW LAW1101

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INTRODUCTION TO LAWLAW1101

• Week 7
• Module 6 Torts - Part 2
• http//www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/8.30/lawrpt/audio/l
  awrpt_03092002_2856.ram

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This Week

• Vicarious Liability
• Negligent Misstatement
• Defamation
• Conversion
• Detinue
• Nuisance

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Summary of Elements of Negligence

• Elements
• 1. Duty of care
• Reasonable foreseeability
• Proximity
• 2. Breach of Duty of Care
• Risk of harm
• Seriousness of harm
• Burden of eliminating the risk
• Utility of the conduct
• 3. Causation
• but for test
• 4. Remoteness
• Reasonable foreseeability of the kind or type of
  damage
• Defences
• Contributory negligence
• Voluntary assumption of the risk

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Vicarious Liability

• Definition
• Employers responsible for the tortious acts of
  employees in the normal course of their
  employement.
• Employee or independent contractor?
• Some tests

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Professional Negligence

• To third parties R E Hill Associates v Van Erp
• Negligent Misstatement
• Earlier cases
• Hedley Byrne v Heller
• MLC v Evatt
• Shaddock Associates Pty Ltd v Parramatta City
  Council

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Elements of Negligent Misstatement

• Person gives information or advice
• On a serious matter
• Realising that advice may be relied upon
• Where the best information or advice is sought
• It is reasonable for the other party to rely on
  it
• And it is the basis of action
• THEN a Duty of Care Exists
• The remaining elements of neglignce must also
  exist
• Breach
• Causation
• Damage not too remote.

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An example

• The foreign currency loan cases
• Liability of Auditors
• Esanda Finance Corporation Ltd v Peat Marwick
  Hungerfords

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Defamation

• Matter
• Defamatory
• Reference to the plaintiff
• Publication
• No valid defences

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Defences to Defamation

• Absolute privilege
• Truth and public benefit
• Protection fair comment
• Qualified privilege or protection

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Conversion

• Plaintiff has a right to possession
• Defendant intentionally acts inconsistently with
  that right

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Detinue

• Plaintiff has a right to possession
• Plaintiff has made a demand for the return of the
  goods
• Defendant refuses

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Nuisance

• Public nuisance
• Public right infringed
• Plaintiff has a special interest
• Private nuisance
• Defendants use of land
• Substantial and unreasonable interference
• With plaintiff's use and enjoyment of land

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Torts

• Negligence including professional negligence
  and negligent misstatement
• Defamation
• Detinue
• Conversion
• Nuisance
• Defences
• Vicarious liability

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Next week

• CONTRACT LAW