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 1 2/12/16 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 2 2/12/16 Justification Catch-allprivilege affirmativedefense Privilegedtocommitintentionaltortif reasonableunderthecircumstances topreventplaintifffrominflicting personalorpropertyinjury forlawfulpurpose Torts 1. Intentional 2. NegligenceActions 3. StrictLiability 3 2/12/16 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 4 2/12/16 Krayenbuhl Negligencelawisaboutstrikingthe appropriatebalance Businessoflifecannotberendered absolutelysafe Weighpublicbenefitagainstpossible dangers CarrollTowing DutyexistswhenB<PxL B=burdenoftakingprecaution P=probabilitypossibilityofrisk L=gravityofthepotentialharm 5 2/12/16 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 6 2/12/16 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 7 2/12/16 EstablishingaStandardofCare RPP RuleofLaw Duty/SOC StatuteEnacted forOther Purpose StatuteEnacted forNegligence Vaughanv.Menlove objectivestandard mentaldeficiencies 8 2/12/16 Sears,Roebuckv.Midcap RPPtakesintoconsideration customandstillacts reasonably Cordasv.PeerlessTransp. RPP’scircumstanceschange so-called“emergencydoctrine” 9 2/12/16 Robertsv.StateofLouisiana Physicalcharacteristics Policyconsiderations Breunigv.Amer.Fam.Ins.Co. Suddenmentalincapacity Policyconsiderations Minoritylaw 10 2/12/16 ChildStandardofCare Reasonablechildoflikeage, intelligence,andexperienceunless operatingmotorizedvehicle(Dellwo) engagedinadultactivity (RESTATEMENT) engagedindangerousactivity (Robinson) EstablishingaStandardofCare Adult RPP Child RuleofLaw Professional Duty Statutefor OtherPurpose Statutefor Negligence 11 2/12/16 TheRPProfessional Objectivestandard(Heathv.SwiftWings) Thereasonableprudentprofessionalin thesameorsimilarcircumstances “professional”? personbelongingtoalearnedprofessionor whoseoccupationrequiresahighlevelof trainingandproficiency Wolskiv.Wandel Legalmalpractice “Casewithinacase” SOCestablishedbylaw,notcontract Experttestimonyreq’d Unlessw/icommonknowledgeof laypersons 12