Affirmative Defenses (Privileges)

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2/12/16
AffirmativeDefenses(Privileges)
1.  Consent
2.  Self-Defense
3.  DefenseofOthers
4.  DefenseofRealProperty
5.  DefenseandRecoverofPersonal
Property
6.  Necessity
Suroccov.Geary
— Necessity–
— defendantactingtoprevent
threatenedinjuryfromsome
forceofnatureorother
independentcausenot
connectedwithplaintiff
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Suroccov.Geary
— publicnecessity
— so-called“championofthepublic”
—  privilegedtodestroy,damage,orusereal
orpersonalproperty
—  ifdefendantreasonablybelieves
—  itisnecessarytodosotoavert
—  imminent
—  publicdisaster
Vincentv.LakeErieTransp.Co.
— privatenecessity–
— toprotectinterestuniqueto
defendant(notapublicinterest)
— limited(orpartial)privilege
— noliabilityfortechnicaltort
— mustpayforactualdamages
caused
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Justification
— Catch-allprivilege
— affirmativedefense
— Privilegedtocommitintentionaltortif
—  reasonableunderthecircumstances
—  topreventplaintifffrominflicting
personalorpropertyinjury
—  forlawfulpurpose
Torts
1. Intentional
2. NegligenceActions
3. StrictLiability
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ElementsofNegligenceAction
1.Duty
2.Breach
3.Causation
4.Harm
•  “StandardofCare”(SOC)
•  Toactasthereasonableprudentpersoninthe
sameorsimilarcircumstances
•  Non-conformitytotheSOC
•  AlongwithDuty,sometimesreferredtoas
“negligence”
•  Causationinfactand
•  Proximate/LegalCause
•  ActualLoss
Lubitzv.Wells
— unreasonableriskisonewhicha
reasonablepersonwould
recognizeasinvolvingariskof
harmtoanother
— REST(2D)TORTS§291
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Krayenbuhl
— Negligencelawisaboutstrikingthe
appropriatebalance
— Businessoflifecannotberendered
absolutelysafe
— Weighpublicbenefitagainstpossible
dangers
CarrollTowing
— DutyexistswhenB<PxL
— B=burdenoftakingprecaution
— P=probabilitypossibilityofrisk
— L=gravityofthepotentialharm
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ElementsofNegligenceAction
1.Duty
2.Breach
3.Causation
4.Harm
•  “StandardofCare”(SOC)
•  Toactasthereasonableprudentpersoninthe
sameorsimilarcircumstances
•  Non-conformitytotheSOC
•  AlongwithDuty,sometimesreferredtoas
“negligence”
•  Causationinfactand
•  Proximate/LegalCause
•  ActualLoss
DeterminingDuty(SOC)
REST(2D)TORTS§285
1.  DeterminingwhattheRPPwouldhavedone
inthecircumstances
2.  ApplyingaRuleofLaw(judicial
pronouncementofSOC)
3.  Applyingnon-tortspecificlegislation/
regulation
4.  Applyinglegislation/regulationproviding
SOCinanegligenceaction
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EstablishingaStandardofCare
RPP
RuleofLaw
Duty/SOC
StatuteEnacted
forOther
Purpose
StatuteEnacted
forNegligence
DeterminingDuty(SOC)
REST(2D)TORTS§285
1.  DeterminingwhattheRPPwouldhave
doneinthecircumstances
2.  ApplyingaRuleofLaw(judicial
pronouncementofSOC)
3.  Applyingnon-tortspecificlegislation/
regulation
4.  Applyinglegislation/regulationproviding
SOCinanegligenceaction
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EstablishingaStandardofCare
RPP
RuleofLaw
Duty/SOC
StatuteEnacted
forOther
Purpose
StatuteEnacted
forNegligence
Vaughanv.Menlove
— objectivestandard
— mentaldeficiencies
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Sears,Roebuckv.Midcap
— RPPtakesintoconsideration
customandstillacts
reasonably
Cordasv.PeerlessTransp.
— RPP’scircumstanceschange
— so-called“emergencydoctrine”
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Robertsv.StateofLouisiana
— Physicalcharacteristics
— Policyconsiderations
Breunigv.Amer.Fam.Ins.Co.
— Suddenmentalincapacity
— Policyconsiderations
— Minoritylaw
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ChildStandardofCare
— Reasonablechildoflikeage,
intelligence,andexperienceunless
— operatingmotorizedvehicle(Dellwo)
— engagedinadultactivity
(RESTATEMENT)
— engagedindangerousactivity
(Robinson)
EstablishingaStandardofCare
Adult
RPP
Child
RuleofLaw
Professional
Duty
Statutefor
OtherPurpose
Statutefor
Negligence
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TheRPProfessional
—  Objectivestandard(Heathv.SwiftWings)
—  Thereasonableprudentprofessionalin
thesameorsimilarcircumstances
—  “professional”?
—  personbelongingtoalearnedprofessionor
whoseoccupationrequiresahighlevelof
trainingandproficiency
Wolskiv.Wandel
—  Legalmalpractice
—  “Casewithinacase”
—  SOCestablishedbylaw,notcontract
—  Experttestimonyreq’d
—  Unlessw/icommonknowledgeof
laypersons
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