University of Washington, School of Law
Law A 504A: Torts
Fall Quarter, 2009-10
Dongsheng Zang
Assistant Professor of Law
William H. Gates Hall #427
Updated: October 26, 2009
Tel: (206) 543-0830
Email: zangd@u.washington.edu
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course serves as a thorough introduction to the legal doctrines of law of Torts. It
is a seven-credit course in the Autumn Quarter. The class will meet on Mondays, Tuesdays
and Thursdays at 10:30-12:20, and Wednesdays at 10:30-11:20, at William H. Gates Hall
#133. Content of this course is divided into the following five parts (more detailed
information can be found in the “Course Schedule” on page 3 below):
Part I. Introduction:
The first week provides a brief historical and thematic introduction to
the modern law of Torts. It aims to frame Torts in a world that not
only flooded by legal doctrines in common law, but also by statutes,
and compensation systems. We will also touch upon the controversial
issue of tort reform, referred to recently by President Obama in his
speech on health care reform.
Part II. Fault:
It covers the subjective element of Torts. It includes two of the most
talked-about topics: intentional torts and negligence. These are the
traditionally hardcore issues in Torts with rich history in legal
doctrines and secondary literature. We will spend about three weeks
on this Part.
Part III. Causal Link: This Part discusses the second key element of Torts—the causal link
between a tortious act and injury. Causal link includes causation in
fact and proximate cause in law.
Part IV. Damages:
This Part is dedicated to the third element of Torts: damages.
Damages include different kinds of damages such as personal injury,
wrongful death, but also how to divide damages when the injured
person also contributes to an accident. It also touches upon the issue
of whether government is immune from liabilities (the hurricane
Katrina is currently a hotly debated issue).
Part V. Liability:
This Part discusses liability that goes beyond the typical personal
injury cases. It covers strict liability (beyond fault), vicarious liability
(liability reaching the employer or contractor), nuisance (liability
limiting the way property owner enjoys her property), and product
liability (liability reaching the products of manufacturers and
retailers).
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OBJECTIVES
Torts and Beyond:
This course first aims to provide you the basic terminology, legal
doctrines and principles in the field. Second, it aims to help you find
the link between this basic course with more advanced courses and
topics such as medical malpractice law, environmental law, product
liability, privacy, and other legal areas. Increasingly, modern law of
Torts has even international elements. Remember the Mattel toys
recalls in the summer of 2008?
Analytic Skills:
Equally important, this course aims to help you develop basic but
crucial analytic skills in legal analysis. Critical thinking is the goal.
Specific time and efforts are dedicated to issues like how to read a
case, and how to distinguish one case from another. A short list of key
literature on legal reasoning is provided in “Textbooks and
References,” on page 3 below.
REQUIREMENTS AND GRADING
Grade Components:
The overall grade for each student is composed of the following
elements: (a) final in-class exam, accounting for 80% of the overall
grade; (b) class attendance and participation, 5% each; and (c) two
class exercises, 5% each.
Attendance:
Each student is expected to attend class. If you are not feeling well, or
have an emergency, you should ask for permission in advance.
Class Participation:
Each student is expected to be fully prepared when she comes to the
class. Evaluation of class participation includes the following
elements: (a) class attendance in general; (b) frequency in taking part
in class discussion (quantitative contribution to class discussion); and
(c) quality in taking part in class discussion. Full credits will be given
to those students who not only speak often, but can also shape the
focuses, perspectives, and analysis in class discussion.
TEXTBOOKS AND REFERENCES
Course Materials:
ƒ
Victor E. Schwartz, Kathryn Kelly & David F. Partlett, Prosser, Wade
and Schwartz’s Torts: Cases and Materials (11th ed.), New York, NY:
Foundation Press 2005, ISBN # 1-58778-874-8 [hereinafter,
Textbook].
Textbook is available at the University Book Store. You may be able to
find a good deal online.
ƒ
All supplemental materials (indicated as Supp.) will either be
distributed or put onto the course website before the classes. The
course website can be found at:
<https://courses.law.washington.edu/zang/A504a_Au09/>.
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Short Books on Torts:
If you need a concise statement of the basics of Torts, you may find
the following reference helpful.
ƒ
Kenneth S. Abraham, The Forms and Functions of Tort Law (3rd ed.),
New York, NY: Foundation Press 2007 (290 pages in length).
Classics in the History of Torts:
The following classic texts may be quoted from time to time in class.
You are not required to read them for the purpose of this class. But if you
were interested, they are all available for free in Google Books website:
ƒ
William Blackstone, Commentaries of the Laws of England
(originally published by the Clarendon Press at Oxford 1765-1769)
(William Carey Jones ed.), San Francisco, CA: Bancroft-Whitney
Company 1916, Book III;
ƒ
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., The Common Law, Boston, MA: Little,
Brown & Co. 1881; Mark DeWolfe Howe ed., 1963, Chapters III and
IV;
ƒ
Frederick Pollock, The Law of Torts: A Treatise on the Principles of
Obligations arising from Civil Wrongs in the Common Law (2nd ed.),
London: Stevens & Sons, Ltd. 1890;
ƒ
Roscoe Pound, An Introduction to the Philosophy of Law, New
Haven, CT: Yale University Press 1922, Chapter 4.
References on Legal Reasoning:
ƒ
Jane C. Ginsburg, Introduction to Law and Legal Reasoning, New
York, NY: Foundation Press 2003;
ƒ
Edward Levi, “An Introduction to Legal Reasoning,” 15 U. Chi. L. Rev.
501 (1948). The article was also published in book form as Edward
Levi, An Introduction to Legal Reasoning, Chicago, IL: University of
Chicago Press 1949;
ƒ
Karl N. Llewellyn, The Common Law Tradition: Deciding Appeals,
Boston, MA: Little, Brown 1960;
ƒ
Duncan Kennedy, A Critique of Adjudication, {fin de siècle},
Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press 1997.
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COURSE SCHEDULE
Content is subject to change, depending on the availability of updated or better
information before each class. The following are required readings only; recommended or
optional readings may be handed out in class or posted on the course website.
Week 1
PART I. INTRODUCTION
Monday
09/28
Topics
Readings
Case Index
§1. Introduction
pp.xiii-xvii
pp.1-16
ƒ Anonymous (1466), 4-5.
ƒ Weaver v. Ward (1616), 5.
§2. Foundations of Liability
Tuesday
09/29
Wednesday
09/30
Thursday
10/01
pp.1-16
ƒ Brown v. Kendall (1850), 6-10.
ƒ Spano v. Perini Corp. (1969), 13-15.
§3. Liability Based on Statutes:
Expressed Rights
pp.1171-81
ƒ De Falco v. Bernas (2001), 1171-81.
§4. Liability Based on Statutes:
Implied Rights
pp.1140-57
Class Exercise: How to Read a Case? Revisiting Weaver (1616) and Kendall (1850).
§5. Compensation Systems
§6. Tort Reform
pp.11911217
pp.1182-90
ƒ Blankenship v. Cincinnati Milacron
Chemicals, Inc. (1982), 1195-98.
ƒ Pulliam v. Coastal Emergency Svcs. (1999),
1182-89.
Week 2
PART II. FAULT
Chapter 1. Intentional Torts
Monday
10/05
Tuesday
10/06
§1. “Intent”
pp.17-24
ƒ Garratt v. Dailey (1955), 17-20.
ƒ Spivey v. Battaglia (1972), 20-22.
ƒ Ranson v. Kitner (1889), 24.
§2. Battery and Assault
pp.29-39
ƒ Cole v. Turner (1704), 29-30.
ƒ Wallace v. Rosen (2002), 30-33.
ƒ Fisher v. Carrousel Motor Hotel, Inc.
(1967), 35-36.
ƒ I de S et ux. v. W de S (1348), 37.
ƒ Western Union Telegraph Co. v. Hill
(1933), 37-39.
§3. False Imprisonment
pp.40-50
§4. Intentional Infliction of
Emotional Distress
pp.50-66
ƒ Big Town Nursing Home, Inc. v. Newman
(1970), 40-41.
ƒ Parvi v. City of Kingston (1977), 42-44.
ƒ Hardy v. LaBelle’s Distributing Co. (1983),
44-46.
ƒ Enright v. Groves (1977), 46-48.
ƒ Whittaker v. Sandford (1912), 48-50.
ƒ State Rubbish Collectors Ass’n v. Siliznoff
(1952), 50-53.
ƒ Slocum v. Food Fair Stores of Florida
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Updated: 10/26, 2009
(1958), 54-56.
ƒ Harris v. Jones (1977), 57-60.
ƒ Taylor v. Vallelunga (1959), 64-65.
Wednesday
10/07
Thursday
10/08
Monday
10/12
Tuesday
10/13
Wednesday
10/14
Speaker Series: How to Do Research, presentation by Mary Whisner, winner of UW
Distinguished Librarian Award 2009.
§5. Trespass
pp.66-76
ƒ Dougherty v. Stepp (1835), 66-67.
ƒ Bradley v. American Smelting and
Refining Co. (1985), 68-70.
ƒ Herrin v. Sutherland (1925), 70-71.
ƒ Glidden v. Szybiak (1949), 75-76.
§6. Conversion
pp.81-90
ƒ Pearson v. Dodd (1969), 81-84.
Week 3
ƒ O’Brien v. Cunard S.S. Co. (1891), 91-92.
ƒ Hackbart v. Cincinnati Bengals, Inc.
(1979), 92-94.
ƒ Mohr v. Williams (1905), 94-97.
ƒ De May v. Roberts (1881), 99-100.
§7. Privilege: Consent
pp.91-103
§8. Privilege: Defense (Self,
Others, and Property)
pp.103-13
ƒ Katko v. Briney (1971), 107-10.
§9. Privilege: Fraud and
Recovery of Property
pp.113-18
ƒ Hodgeden v. Hubbard (1846) 113-14.
ƒ Bonkowski v. Arlan’s Department Store
(1968), 115-17.
§10. Privilege: Necessity &
Justification
pp.118-30
ƒ Surocco v. Geary (1853), 118-20.
ƒ Vincent v. Lake Erie Transp. Co. (1910),
121-23.
ƒ Sindle v. New York City Transit Authority
(1973), 128-29.
Speaker Series: Economics Approach to Torts, by Professor and Associate Dean Steve
Calandrillo.
Chapter 2. Negligence
Thursday
10/15
§1. Negligence Formula
pp.131-45
ƒ Lubitz v. Wells (1955), 133.
ƒ Blyth v. Birmingham Waterworks Co.
(1856), 134.
ƒ Gulf Refining Co. v. Williams (1938), 13536.
ƒ Chicago, B. & Q.R. Co. v. Krayenbuhl
(1902), 138-39.
ƒ Davison v. Snohomish County (1928), 13941.
ƒ United States v. Carroll Towing Co. (1947),
141-43.
Monday
10/19
§2. Common Law Standard of
Care: The Reasonable Person
pp.145-67
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Week 4
Vaughan v. Menlove (1837), 145-47.
Delair v. McAdoo (1936), 148-49.
Trimarco v. Klein (1982), 150-53.
Robinson v. Lindsay (1979), 161-63.
Breunig v. American Family Ins. Co.
(1970), 165-67.
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Tuesday
10/20
§3. Common Law Standard of
Care: The Professional
Wednesday
10/21
Class Exercise: In Class Practice
Thursday
10/22
Monday
10/26
pp.168-94
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§4. Statutory Standard of Care
pp.200-27
ƒ Pokora v. Wabash Ry. Co. (1934), 200-03.
ƒ Osborne v. McMasters (1889), 204-05.
ƒ Zeni v. Anderson (1976), 224-27.
§5. Proof of Negligence:
Circumstantial Evidence
pp.229-37
ƒ Goddard v. Boston & Maine R.R. Co.
(1901), 229-30.
ƒ Anjou v. Boston Elevated Railway Co.
(1911), 230-31.
ƒ Joye v. Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Co.
(1968), 231.
ƒ Ortega v. Kmart Corp. (2001), 231-33.
ƒ Jasko v. F.W. Woolworth Co. (1972), 23334.
ƒ H. E. Butt Groc. Co. v. Resendez (1999),
234-35.
§6. Proof of Negligence: Res
Ipsa Loquitur
pp.237-44
Heath v. Swift Wings, Inc. (1979), 168-70.
Hodges v. Carter (1954), 173-75.
Morrison v. MacNamara (1979), 181-84.
Moore v. The Regents of the University of
California (1990), 191-94.
Week 5
ƒ Byrne v. Boadle (1863), 237-39.
ƒ McDougald v. Perry (1998), 240-44.
§7. Review of Chapters 1 & 2.
PART III. CAUSAL RELATIONSHIP
Chapter 3. Causation in Facts
Tuesday
10/27
Wednesday
10/28
Thursday
10/29
§1. Sine Qua Non
pp.259-62
pp.267-68
pp.270-72
ƒ Perkins v. Texas and New Orleans Ry. Co.
(1962), 259-61.
ƒ Kramer Service v. Wilkins (1939), 267-68.
ƒ Herskovits v. Group Health Cooperative of
Puget Sound (1983), 270-72.
§2. Proof of Causation
pp.274-82
ƒ Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals,
Inc. (1995), 274-81.
Class Exercise: Commentaries and Group Discussion
§3. Concurrent Causes
pp.282-92
Chapter 4. Proximate Cause
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ƒ Hill v. Edmonds (1966), 282.
ƒ Anderson v. Minneapolis, St. P. & S. St. M.
R.R. Co. (1920), 283-84.
ƒ Summers v. Tice (1948), 285-86.
ƒ Sindell v. Abbott Laboratories (1980), 28790.
Torts 504A
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§1. Unforeseeable
Monday
11/02
pp.294-302
Professor Kuszler will be teaching.
ƒ Ryan v. New York Central R.R. Co. (1866),
294-96.
ƒ Bartolone v. Jeckovich (1984), 297-99.
ƒ In re Arbitration between Polemis and
Furness, Withy & Co., Ltd. (1921), 300-01.
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Tuesday
11/03
Week 6
Whiteside v. Lukeson, 89 Wa. App.
109, 947 P. 2d 1263 (1997)
Harbeson v. Parke-Davis, 656 P. 2d
483 (1983)
Review of Herskovits v. Group
Health (from Oct. 26 session) &
Moore v. Regents of UC (From Oct
20 session)
§1. Unforeseeable (cont’d)
pp.302-05
pp.308-19
ƒ Overseas Tankship (U.K.) Ltd. v. Morts
Dock & Engineering Co., Ltd. “Wagon
Mound No.1” (1961), 302-05.
ƒ Palsgraf v. Long Island R.R. Co. (1928),
308-16.
§2. Intervening Causes
pp.325-44
ƒ Derdiarian v. Felix Contracting Corp.
(1980), 325-27.
ƒ McCoy v. American Suzuki Motor Corp.
(1998), 338-41.
§3. Public Policy
pp.344-55
ƒ Kelly v. Gwinnell (1984), 344-47.
ƒ Enright v. Eli Lilly & Co. (1991), 349-53.
pp.520-30
ƒ Anderson v. Sears, Roebuck & Co. (1974),
520-23.
ƒ Richardson v. Chapman (1997), 524-30.
pp.540-48
ƒ Montgomery Ward & Co., Inc. v. Anderson
(1998), 540-42.
ƒ Zimmerman v. Ausland (1973), 545-47.
§4. Review of Chapters 3 & 4.
Wednesday
11/04
Class Exercise A: In Class (Graded)
PART IV. DAMAGES
Thursday
11/05
Chapter 5. Damages
§1. Personal Injuries
Monday
11/09
§2. Wrongful Death
pp.565-78
§3. Punitive Damages
pp.550-64
Chapter 6. Defenses
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Week 7
ƒ Moragne v. States Marine Lines, Inc.
(1970), 565-68.
ƒ Selders v. Armentrout (1973), 573-75.
ƒ Cheatham v. Pohle (2003), 551-54.
ƒ State Farm Mutual Automobile Ins. Co. v.
Campbell (2003), 556-62.
Torts 504A
Tuesday
11/10
Updated: 10/26, 2009
§1. Contributory Negligence &
Comparative Negligence
pp.586-601
§2. Assumption of Risk
Wednesday
11/11
Thursday
11/12
ƒ Butterfield v. Forrester (1809), 586-87.
ƒ Davies v. Mann (1842), 591.
ƒ McIntyre v. Balentine (1992), 592-97.
pp.601-14
ƒ Seigneur v. National Fitness Institute, Inc.
(2000), 601-05.
ƒ Rush v. Commercial Realty Co. (1929),
607.
ƒ Blackburn v. Dorta (1977), 610-13.
§3. Immunities: Family
pp.622-33
ƒ Freehe v. Freehe (1972), 622-24.
ƒ Renko v. McLean (1997), 625-31.
§4. Immunities: State and
Local Governments
pp.637-48
ƒ Ayala v. Philadelphia Board of Public
Education (1973), 637-40.
ƒ Riss v. New York (1968), 642-44.
ƒ DeLong v. Erie County (1982), 644-47.
§5. Immunities: Federal
Government and Public
Officers
pp.648-59
Supp.
ƒ Deuser v. Vecera (1998), 648-53.
Holiday: Veterans’ Day!
Week 8
Monday
11/16
§6. Review of Chapters 5 & 6
PART V. SCOPE OF LIABILITY
Chapter 7. Strict Liability
Tuesday
11/17
§1. Abnormally Dangerous
Activities
§2. Limitations
Wednesday
11/18
pp.692-701
ƒ Rylands v. Fletcher (1865), 692-97.
ƒ Miller v. Civil Constructors, Inc. (1995),
699-701.
pp.710-17
ƒ Foster v. Preston Mill Co. (1954), 710-11.
ƒ Golden v. Amory (1952), 712-13.
ƒ Sandy v. Bushey (1925), 714-15.
§1. Respondeat Superior
pp.660-67
ƒ Bussard v. Minimed, Inc. (2003), 661-63.
ƒ O’Shea v. Welch (2003), 663-65.
§2. Independent Contractors
pp.667-71
ƒ Murrell v. Goertz (1979), 667-69.
ƒ Maloney v. Rath (1968), 669-71.
Speaker Series or Class Exercise
Chapter 8. Vicarious Liability
Thursday
11/19
Week 9
Chapter 9. Nuisance
Monday
11/23
§1. Private Nuisance
pp.800-07
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ƒ Philadelphia Electric Company v.
Hercules, Inc. (1985), 800-04.
ƒ Morgan v. High Penn Oil Co. (1953), 80507.
Torts 504A
Updated: 10/26, 2009
§2. Public Interests and
Nuisance
Tuesday
11/24
§3. Nuisance and Global
Warming
pp.816-28
Supp.
ƒ Boomer v. Atlantic Cement Co., Inc.
(1970), 816-21.
ƒ Spur Industries, Inc. v. Del E. Webb
Development Co. (1972), 822-25.
ƒ State of Connecticut et al. v. American
Electric Power Company, Inc., et al. (2nd
Cir., September 21, 2009).
§4. Review Chapters 7-9.
Wednesday
11/25
Thursday
11/26
Speaker Series: Environmental Law and Torts
Holiday: Thanksgiving!
Week 10
Chapter 10. Product Liability
Monday
11/30
Tuesday
12/01
§1. Theories of Recovery:
Negligence and Warranties
pp.719-30
ƒ MacPherson v. Buick Motor Co. (1916),
719.
ƒ Henningsen v. Bloomfield Motors, Inc.
(1960), 726-30.
§2. Theories of Recovery:
Strict Liability
pp.732-38
ƒ Greenman v. Yuba Power Products, Inc.
(1963).
§3. Defects in Manufacturing
& Design
pp.740-57
ƒ Rix v. General Motors Corp. (1986), 74042.
ƒ Prentis v. Yale Mfg. Co. (1984), 743-48.
ƒ O’Brien v. Muskin Corp. (1983), 750-54.
§4. Warnings Defect
pp.757-64
ƒ Anderson v. Owens-Corning Fiberglas
Corp. (1991), 757-60.
Wednesday
12/02
Speaker Series: Professor Patricia Kuszler, on Medical Malpractice Litigation and Torts
Thursday
12/03
§5. Defenses: Plaintiff’s
Conduct
pp.769-77
ƒ Daly v. General Motors Corp. (1978) 76974.
ƒ Ford Motors Co. v. Matthews (1974), 77476.
§6. Government Actions
pp.777-83
ƒ Medtronic, Inc. v. Lohr (1996), 777-81.
§7. Joint Liability
pp.783-87
Week 11
ƒ Peterson v. Lou Bachrodt Chevrolet Co.
(1975), 783-85.
Monday
12/07
§8. Review of Chapters 10.
Tuesday
12/08
Review
Wednesday
12/09
Q&A. Last Day of Instruction. Good luck with the finals!
Review
Final exam is scheduled on December 16, 2009, Wednesday, at 1:00 pm.
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