StudentIdentifier:______________ TortsPracticeExam Prof.Duncan Monday,April11,2016 6:00p.m. Thisisaclosedbookpracticeexam.Youarenotpermittedtouseanymaterials otherthanyourbraininansweringtheattachedquestions. Thispracticeexamiscomprisedoftwoparts:PartIcontainsfourmultiplechoice questionsandisdesignedtobecompletedin10minutes;PartIIcontainsoneessay questionandisdesignedtobecompletedin50minutes.Thispracticeexamisdesignedto becompletedin60minutes.Youmayuseyour60minutesinanywayyouwish. Youaretocomposeyouranswers(includingyourmultiplechoiceresponses)ina Worddocumenttobesenttome.Pleaseplaceyournameoranyidentifyingnumber(that youwillremember)atthebeginningofyourWorddocumentcontainingyourpractice examanswers.DoNOTuseyouractualanonymousexamnumberthatyouwillbe usingonyourfinalexam. YourWorddocumentcontainingyouranswersmustbeattachedtoanemailand senttomeatmduncan@uh.eduimmediatelyuponcompletionofthispracticeexam. Answersthatarenotimmediatelyemailedtomewillnotbegraded. Donotbreakthesealbelowuntilyouareinstructedtodosoby theproctor. 1 StudentIdentifier:______________ PartI– MultipleChoiceQuestions (SuggestedTimeLimit–10minutes) 1. 2. 3. HomeownerandNeighborownunfenced,adjoiningclosesofland.Confusedabout theboundarylinebetweentheirproperties,Homeownermistakenlybeginsparking hiscaronNeighbor’sproperty.Neighborhasrequestedseveraltimesfor HomeownertoremovehiscarfromNeighbor’sproperty.Homeownerhasfailedto doso.Afterafewdaysofthisnonsense,NeighbordragsHomeowner’scarback ontoHomeowner’spropertyandunintentionallyruinsthetransmissionashedoes so.HomeownersuesNeighborfortrespasstochattel.Whatresult? A. Homeownerwillprevailbecauseheneverintendedtotrespassonneighbor’s land. B. Neighborwillprevailifheusedreasonableforceinmovingthecar. C. Neighborwilllosebecausehecauseddamagetohomeowner’scar. D. Homeownerwilllosebecausethedamagetohomeowner’scarwas unintentional. Toddler,atwo-year-oldchildsufferingfromabacterialinfection,receivedaroutine childhoodvaccinationwithavaccinemanufacturedbyVaco.Shortlyafterreceiving thevaccine,Toddlerspikedaveryhighfever,wentintorespiratoryarrest,anddied. Toddler’sestatesuesVacoinnegligence.Attrial,Toddler’sestateprovides competentevidencethatToddlerdiedduetoacombinationoftheinfectionandthe vaccineand,ifeithertoddlerhadnothadaninfectionorifToddlerhadnotbeen vaccinated,deathwouldnothaveensued.Regardingthecause-in-factelementof thenegligenceaction,hasToddler’sestatesatisfieditsburdenofproductionto provethatthevaccinewasacause-in-factofToddler’sdeath? A. Toddler’sestatehasnotsatisfieditsburdenofproductiontoshowthatthe vaccinewascause-in-factofToddler’sdeath. B. Toddler’sestatecannotsatisfyitsburdenofproductiontoshowthatthevaccine wasacause-in-factofToddler’sdeathbecausetheinfectioncontributedto Toddler’sdeath. C. Toddler’sestatehassatisfieditsburdenofproductiontoshowthatthe vaccinewasacause-in-factcauseofToddler’sdeath. D. Toddler’sestatecannotsatisfyitsburdenofproductiontoshowthatthevaccine wasacause-in-factofToddler’sdeathbecausetheinfectionwasthesolecausein-factcauseofToddler’sdeath. Lateonenight,Peteplaceshisloadedpistolonthecoffeetableinthefamilyroomof hishomethatheshareswithhiswifeandtwoyoungchildren.Thenextafternoon Pete’s10-year-oldson,Nolan,isspendingtimeinthefamilyroomwithhisfriend, 2 StudentIdentifier:______________ Buddy.Nolanpicksupthegunandplayswithit,accidentallycausingittodischarge. Buddyisinjuredbythegunshot.InanegligenceactionagainstPetebroughton behalfofBuddy,canPetebeheldliablefornegligence? A. PetecannotbeheldliableinnegligenceforinjuriestoBuddybecausePetenever intendedforBuddyoranyoneelsetobeinjured. B. PetecannotbeheldliableinnegligenceforinjuriestoBuddybecauseNolanis thepersonwhoactuallydischargedthegunandisthereforethesoleproximate causeofBuddy’sinjuries. C. Petemaybeheldliableinnegligencebecauseparentsareliableforinjuries causedbytheirchildren. D. PetemaybeheldliableinnegligencebecausePetecarelesslyprovided Nolanaccesstothegunincircumstancesinwhichitwasforeseeablethat Nolanmightuseitimproperly. 4. ShopperispickingupafewitemsatGroceryStoreonherwayhomefromwork.As sheenterstheproducesectionofGroceryStore,sheseesPlaintifflyingonthefloor, holdingherobviouslyinjuredhip.RightnexttoPlaintiff,Shopperobservesadry, gritty,almostentirelyblack,much-trampled-uponsquishybananalyingonthefloor. InPlaintiff’snegligenceactionagainstGroceryStore,Shoppertestifiestothe conditionofthebananawhenshesawitlayingnexttotheinjuredPlaintiff.Whatis thebestcharacterizationofShopper’stestimonyaboutthebanana’sconditioninthe trialbroughtbyPlaintiffagainstGroceryStoreforitsallegednegligence? A. Shopper’stestimonyiscircumstantialevidenceofGroceryStore’s negligenceandrequiresthefactfindertodrawaninferenceregarding GroceryStore’sbreachofthestandardofcare. B. Shopper’stestimonyisdirectevidenceofGroceryStore’snegligenceand requiresthefactfindertodrawaninferenceregardingGroceryStore’sbreachof thestandardofcare. C. Shopper’stestimonyiscircumstantialevidenceandcannotbeusedtoestablish GroceryStore’sbreachofthestandardofcare. D. Shopper’stestimonyisdirectevidenceofGroceryStore’snegligenceandcannot beusedtoestablishGroceryStore’sbreachofthestandardofcare. 3 StudentIdentifier:______________ PartII– EssayQuestion (SuggestedTimeLimit–50minutes) Driver,whoisvisitinghissisterinStatewhileonvacation,isdrivinghisbelovedtwoseaterconvertiblecarwiththetopdown.Itisanoldermodel,smallconvertiblethatDriver treatsashisbaby.Heloveshiscarsomuchthathenamedher“Connie.”Driverisenjoying lifeashetravelsdownthestreetonthewaytohissister’shome:thesunisbeamingonhis face;whatlittlehairhehasleftiswhippingthroughthewind;andheissingingalongtohis favoritecountrysongsplayingontheradio.Driverisnotwearingaseatbelt,whichisa misdemeanorinState.AlthoughDriverisnotawareoftheseatbeltlaw,hewouldhonestly gowithoutaseatbelt,evenifhewereawareofitsexistence.Driverisinsuchagoodmood thathehappilywavesatabunchofchildreninabigyellowschoolbustravelingacoupleof lanestotheleftbesidehim. Atanearbyintersection,Pedestrianiswalkingquicklydownthestreetatalmostajog, apparentlyinarush.Afterabsent-mindedlylookingbothwaysfortraffic,shehustles acrossthestreet.ShedoessowithoutevennoticingthatshehassteppedrightinDriver’s path;DriverseesPedestrianjustintimetoswervetoavoidhittingher. AtthesamemomentFather,whoisdrivinghislargeSUVtopickuphiskidsfrom school,seesDriverveeringhisconvertibleintoFather’slane.Withtheschoolbustohis left,theconvertiblecomingtowardhimfromhisright,andnootheroptions,Fathermakes thequickdecisiontodirecthisSUVstraightatDriver’sbelovedConnieratherthantoward thebussoastoavoidinjuringanykids.Ashedoesso,Fatheralsotriestostopthehuge SUV,butisunabletoavoidsmashingintothedriver’ssideoftheconvertible.TheSUV collidesviolentlywiththesmallcar.Driverisinjuredwhenhisdoorgiveswaytotheforce oftheSUVandheisstruckbythemetaloftheframeofhisbelovedconvertible’scardoor. Driversustainsabrokenleftarmandbrokenribsontheleftsideofhisbodyfromtheforce oftheSUVstrikinghisvehicle.Thedamagetothecarasaresultoftheaccidentismore thanitsvalue,soConnieistotaled.Fatherisabitshakenup,butuninjured.Pedestrianis unharmedandunfazedbytheentireevent;shecontinuestohurrydownthestreet,never tobeseenagain. Drivervisitsyou(anexpertintortlaw)foradviceonwhetherDriverhasaviablecause ofactionagainstanyoneforhisinjuriesandthelossofhisbelovedconvertibleConnie.This incidentoccurredinajurisdictionthatfollowscurrentmajoritylawwiththeexceptionthat ithasadoptedapurecomparativefaultscheme. Pleasewriteanessayadvisingofanypotentiallyviabletortactionsandavailable defenses,ifany.Inyouranswer,donotdiscusstherecoveryofdamagesunlessessential totheplaintiff’sprimafaciecaseoranyapplicabledefense(s). 4 StudentIdentifier:______________ Issue-Spotting Essay Question Sample Grading Rubric Unsatisfactory --would not be useful to a supervisor Satisfactory – acceptable work for a law student Proficient – very good work for a law student Highly Proficient – excellent work for a student (on par with a novice attorney) Format and Organization Doesn’t follow an organized format; analysis is confusingly presented Somewhat follows an organized format Mostly follows an organized format Follows an organized format; provides clear statement of law, analyzes the facts by legal element, and states a conclusion; analyzes elements individually Law Inaccurate law; elements missing Includes applicable law but may have areas where law is not clearly stated or is inaccurate Includes applicable law; may include slight vagueness Accurately provides a clear statement of the relevant law and lists all elements and relevant factors Facts are given in narrative at times or facts not connected to legal elements or very few facts given or makes up facts or misstates facts Thinly applies facts to relevant ethical principles Adequately use facts to show reader how legal elements apply; notes some nuances or gray areas, if any Clearly analyzes facts by legal element; notes most nuances or gray areas; identifies assumptions; identifies and addresses competing arguments; reaches conclusion; demonstrates mastery of tort law (somewhat point-worthy, e.g., 2 points per issue) Analysis (application of law to acts presented) (most point-worthy, e.g., 8 points per issue) All elements and factors should be analyzed; weight accorded element or analysis depends on complexity of the issue 5 StudentIdentifier:______________ Legend: +–goodjob! √–acceptablework — –needsimprovement (pleasecomeseemefortips!) PracticeEssayExam Point-worthyIssues Driverv.Father • TrespasstoChattelorBattery–definition(s) o elements § intent • specific • general • transferredintentdoctrine § voluntaryact § causation § harm o Necessity § privateorpublic? Driverv.Pedestrian • Negligence–definition o elements § duty–RPP § breach § causation • cause-in-fact • proximate/legalcause o dependent,interveningcause? § actualinjury o comparativefault– § elements § duty • noapplicabilityofstatute § breach § causation • cause-in-fact • proximatecause § actualinjury § purecomparativefaultscheme--reducedbyfaultattributable toDriver o unavailabilityofPedestrian EssayFeedback—__________