Torts
Prof.Duncan
4/27/2016
PracticeEssayQuestion
SuggestedTimeLimit–90minutes
Harryisaself-proclaimed“scientist”whohasthehair-brainedideatostarta
DNApaternityidentificationbusiness.Hedecidesthatinordertostartthebusiness,
heneedstocollectasmanyhairsamplesfromaswideavarietypeopleaspossible.
Hechoosesthecitybusastheperfectplacetostart.
Onemorning,Harryboardsthepublicbus.Hegrabsaseatthatisnextto
PassengerandbehindKim,ayoungwomanwithlong,flowingblondhair.While
Passengerwatches,Harrytakeshisscissorsfromhisknapsackandattemptstocuta
largechunkofhairfromKim’shead.Realizingthatmostwomenwillbeupsetto
loseasampleofhairtoastranger’sshears,hefiguresthathemightbeabletocollect
hairsampleswithoutthewomennoticing.However,thingsdonotquitegoasHarry
planswhenitturnsoutthatKim’slong,flowingblondhairisactuallyawigthatslips
offherheadwhenHarryattemptstocollecthissample.Surprised,Harryapologizes
andquicklyreturnsthewigtoKim.Kimisbesideherselfwithembarrassment,as
shesitsonthebuswithherwiginherlapandherbald,patchyheadexposedtoher
fellowbusriders.
Kimissoupsetthatshecannotevenpullherselftogetherenoughtogoto
workthatday.(Atalmostthreemonthspregnant,shehasfoundthatsheupsets
moreeasilythansheusedtopre-pregnancy.)Shegoeshometoherapartmentthat
sheshareswithherlongtimelive-inboyfriend,Lonny,thefatherofherunborn
child.Sadly,herupsetisfurtherexacerbatedwhenherout-of-controlemotionslead
hertosufferamiscarriage.
Afterseveralweekshavepassed,Kimisstillbeyonddistraught.Shetalksto
herbestfriendAlice,tellingherthatthebusattackandthemiscarriagearetheend
oftheroadforher–shewantstocommitsuicide.Alice(analcoholicwhose
judgmenthasbeenimpairedbyyearsofalcoholabuse)providesKimwithalarge
numberofsleepingpills,hopingthatKimwillusethemtohelphergetsomerest,
butawarethatKimmayusethemtokillherself.Tragically,Kimusesthepillsto
commitsuicide.(Thepenalcodeinthisjurisdictionmakescommittingsuicide,as
wellasassistinginthecommissionofsuicide,crimes.)
Astatuteinthisjurisdictionalsoprovides:
“(i)Norightofactionforpersonalinjuryorforinjurytorealor
personalpropertyshallceaseordiewiththepersoninjuringor
injured.Anysuchactionmaybebroughtbythepersonal
representativeoftheestateoragainstthepersonalrepresentativeof
theestate.
“(ii)Wheneverthedeathofapersonresultsfromaninjuryinflicted
bythetortiousactofanother,damagesmayberecoveredforthe
deathfromthepersonwhocausedit.Thecauseofactionmustbe
broughtbyanddamagesrecoveredforthebenefitofthefollowing(in
thefollowingorder):(a)anysurvivingspouse;(b)ifnosurviving
spouse,anysurvivingchildren;(c)ifnosurvivingspouseorchildren,
anysurvivingparents.”
Kim’sbrotherBillandherboyfriendLonnyareallthatKimhadleftinthis
world,asshehasnochildrenandhermotherdiedyearsagoaftersheandherfather
divorced.KimhasnotbeenincontactwithherDadsinceshewasasmallchild.
KimhasleftavalidwillbequeathingallofherpropertytoLonnywhomshenames
asadministratorofherestate.BillandLonnyseekyourguidanceastocausesof
actionthatmaybebroughtagainstHarry,Passenger,orAliceforKim’stragedy.
Pleasediscusspossibletortactions,ifany,andpotentiallyviabledefenses,if
any.Beawareinthisjurisdictionhasadoptedapurecomparativefaultscheme.Do
notdiscussdamagesunlessgermanetotheprimafaciecause(s)ofactionorrelevant
defense(s).
MostPoint-WorthyIssues
Lonny
AsexecutorofKim’sestate,hemaybringthesurvivalactionspursuanttothe
statute;Billmaynot
Lonny(forKim)v.Harry
• Battery
o Elements
§ Wigpartofbody?
§ Liabilityformiscarriage?
• Eggshellskullplaintiff?
o Defense?
§ InterveningcauseofAlice
• Intentional
• Foreseeable?
Lonny(forKim)v.Alice
• Negligence?(bcnointent;atmostrecklessness)
o Elements
§ Duty • RPPstandard
o Alcoholismaphysicalcondition?
• Orapplypenalstatute
§ Breach
§ Causation
• CIF
• Proxcause
o Foreseeable,intentionalinterveningsuicide
(mostviabledefense)
§ Harm
• Herdeath?
o WouldmakeitaWDaction
o OnlyDad(ifhecanbefound)maybringWD
action
• Injuriesuptoherdeath
o Factsnotclear
o Defense(s)
§ Comparativenegligence?
§ Assumptionoftherisk?
•
Bill
•
AsKim’sbrother,Billisnotentitledtobringthewrongfuldeathactionorthe
survivalactions
o Survivalaction–Subsection(i)
o ThewrongfuldeathactionmaybebroughtbyherDad,ifhecanbe
found
§ Wrongfuldeath–Subsection(ii)
§ Otherwise,noWDaction
•
NocausesofactionagainstPassenger,asthereisnodutytoactintortlaw
o Noliabilityforanomission