3/14/16
Negligence
1.  Duty
2.  Breach
3.  Causation
a)  Causationinfact
b)  Proximate/LegalCause
4.  Harm
Perkinsv.Texas&N.O.Ry.
— SineQuaNon
— “Butfor”
— Substantialfactor
— FactualCause
1
3/14/16
Rileyv.Salley
— “defendanttakesvictimashefinds
him”
— eggshellskullplaintiffrule
— defendantresponsibleforallnatural
andprobablephysicalconsequencesof
negligence
Reynoldsv.Tex.&Pac.Ry.
— possibilitythataccidentmighthave
happenedw/odefendant’snegligence
isinsufficienttobreakCIFchain
2
3/14/16
KramerService,Inc.v.Wilkins
— CIFconcernsprobabilities
— possibilityinsufficient
— posthocergopropterhoc
Herskovits
— Lossofchancedoctrine
3
3/14/16
Negligence
1.  Duty
2.  Breach
3.  Causation
a)  Causationinfact
b)  Proximate/LegalCause
4.  Harm
ProblemsinProvingCIF
4
3/14/16
Anderson
— independentsufficientcauses
— eachisCIFifeachis“substantialfactor”
—  Restatement(2d)§432(2)
—  Restatement(3d)§27
—  clarifiesCIFwhentraditional“butfor”testfails
Trevinov.Hirsch
•  independent,predominant
events
— substantialfactortest
— determinationoffact
5
3/14/16
Summersv.Tice
—  alternativeliabilitytheory
—  whereplaintiffcanestablishthatboth
defendantsbreacheddutyofcarebut
negligenceofonlyonecouldhavecaused
theinjury,theBOPonCIFshiftsto
defendantstoabsolvehim/herself
—  assistsplaintiffw/proofproblemsreCIF
Hellumsv.Raber
— concertofactiontheory
— defendantsworkingpursuanttoan
agreeduponplan,encouragingone
another,orsubstantiallyassistingone
another
— alldefendantsareCIF
6
3/14/16
Sindellv.AbbottLabs
—  alternativeliability(Summers)?
—  concertofaction(Hellums)?
—  “enterprise”liability?
—  marketshareliability
—  “substantial”shareofmarket
—  opt-outavailable
—  cross-complaintpermitted
—  damagesreflectshareofmarket
Sindellv.AbbottLabs
Corrective
Justice
Optimal
Deterrence
Compensation
Loss
Distribution
Tort
liability?
Redressof
Social
Grievances
7
3/14/16
Negligence
1.  Duty
2.  Breach
3.  Causation
a)  Causationinfactand
b)  Proximate/LegalCause
4.  Harm
AtlanticCoastLinev.Daniels
—  Proximate(legal)cause
—  Arbitrarylimitsthatmustbedrawn
—  Legaldeterminationofresponsibility
—  Wheredefendant’sbreachofdutycausedin
factplaintiff’sinjury,defendantnot
responsibleforthatinjuryifnotproximate/
legalcause
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3/14/16
Proximate/LegalCause
1. UnforeseeableConsequences
2. InterveningCauses
3. PublicPolicy
Ryanv.N.Y.CentralR.R.Co.
—  liableforproximateresults,notremote
damages
—  “proximate”
—  “anticipated”
—  “ordinaryandnatural”
—  “expected”
—  “necessaryorusual”
—  “immediate”
9
3/14/16
Atchisonv.Stanford
— Responsibleforresults“foreseenby
theexerciseofreasonablediligence”
— “reasonable,natural,andprobable
consequenceofwrongfulact”
Polemis
— Directcausationtest
— Negligentactislegalcauseofinjuryif
Δcouldforeseeoranticipatesome
harmfromnegligentconduct
— Mannerinwhichdamageoccursis
irrelevant
10