3/14/16
Negligence
1.  Duty
2.  Breach
3.  Causation
a)  Causationinfactand
b)  Proximate/LegalCause
4.  Harm
Proximate/LegalCause
1. UnforeseeableConsequences
2. InterveningCauses
3. PublicPolicy
1
3/14/16
Polemis
— Directcausationtest
— Negligentactislegalcauseofinjuryif
Δcouldforeseeoranticipatesome
harmfromnegligentconduct
— Mannerinwhichdamageoccursis
irrelevant
Palsgrafv.LongIslandR.R.
— J.Cardozo’szoneofdangertest
— Negligentconductislegalcauseof
injuryif
—  harmisgeneraltypethatmadeconduct
unreasonableinfirstplaceand
—  plaintiffwaswithinzoneofdanger
— JudgeAndrews’dissent–
—  Polemis
2
3/14/16
PalsgrafLegoMovie
Proximate/LegalCause
1. UnforeseeableConsequences
2. InterveningCauses
3. PublicPolicy
3
3/14/16
WagonMoundI
— disapprovesofPolemis
— announcesreasonable
foreseeabilitytest
— typeofharmmustbereasonably
foreseeable(e.g.,injurybyfire)
WagonMoundII
— reasonableforeseeabilitytest
— typeofharmmustbe
reasonablyforeseeable(e.g.,
injurybyfire)
4
3/14/16
InreKinsmanTransit
—  ΠTheTewksbury–hitbyTheShiras
—  ΠTheDruckenmiller–hitbyTheShirasandTheTweksbury
—  Πfloodvictims--20+personsandcompanies
—  ΔKinsman–ownerofTheShiras(butnotatfault)
—  ΔCityofBuffalo
—  ΔTheShiras–cross-claimedagainstCity
—  ΔContinentalGrainCo.–crossclaimedagainstCity
InreKinsmanTransit
1.  negligenceofCity?
2. “lastclearchance”doctrine?
3.  unexpectedcharacterofevents?
—  Palsgraf(typeandzone)
—  J.Moore’sconcurrence/dissent
—  KinsmanII–
—  norecoveryforeconomiclosses
5
3/14/16
Wilkev.WoodhouseFord,Inc.
—  naturalandprobableresultand
—  noefficientinterveningcause
Proximate/LegalCause
1. UnforeseeableConsequences
a)
b)
c)
directcausation(Polemis)
reasonableforeseeability(WMI&II)
Cardozo’szoneofdanger(PalsgrafI
2. InterveningCauses
3. PublicPolicy
6
3/14/16
Derdiarianv.FelixContracting
—  Interveningcausedoesnotnecessarily
severecausalconnection
—  Onlyifitisasupersedingcause
—  Supersedingif
—  extraordinary
—  unforeseeableor
—  independent
—  Notsupersedingifriskissamewhichrenders
defendantnegligent
TortsSoFar…
1.
Introduction
2.
IntentionalTorts
3.
DefensestoIntentionalTorts
4.
Negligence
5.
CausationinNegligenceActions
6.
Defenses(andPartialDefenses)to
NegligenceActions
7
3/14/16
Negligence
1.
Duty
2.
Breach
3.
Causation
a)
b)
4.
Causeinfactand
Legal/ProximateCause
1.
unforeseeableconsequences
2.
interveningcauses
3.
publicpolicyconsiderations
Harm
Interveningcause
Defendant’s
Breachof
Stdofcare
Interveningcause
Intervening,
Superceding
cause
Plaintiff’s
harm
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3/14/16
Interveningcause
Defendant’s
Breachof
Stdofcare
Interveningcause
Intervening,
Superceding
cause
Plaintiff’s
harm
Derdiarianv.FelixContracting
— Interveningcauseissuperseding
eventif
— extraordinary
— unforeseeableor
— independent
9
3/14/16
Watsonv.Kentucky&Ind.Bridge
— Intentionalinterveningactsare
ordinarilysupersedingevents
Fullerv.Preis
LaQuintaInnsv.Leech
— Whethersuicideisasuperseding
event?
10
3/14/16
Proximate/LegalCause
1. UnforeseeableConsequences
2. InterveningCauses
3. PublicPolicy
Kellyv.Gwinnell
— socialhostliability?
11
3/14/16
Enrightv.EliLilly&Co.
EliLilley
negligently
manufacturesDES
Grandmom
Ingests
DES
Mom
exposed
inutero
Plaintiff
Child
PublicPolicyConsiderations
1.  Compensation
2.  Optimaldeterrence
3.  Distributionofloss
4.  RedressofSocialGrievances
5.  Correctivejustice
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