TORTS I & II
508-1
FALL 2014 & SPRING 2015
PROFESSOR
CONSTANCE FAIN
3100 CLEBURNE STREET | HOUSTON, TEXAS 77004
TELEPHONE: 713.313.4455 | FAX: 713.313.1049
TABLE OF CONTENTS
The Professor .................................................................................................................................. 3
Course Books & Material ............................................................................................................... 4
Course Description & Objective ..................................................................................................... 5
Student Learning Outcomes ............................................................................................................ 6
Grading ........................................................................................................................................... 7
ScanTron ......................................................................................................................................... 8
Accommodations ............................................................................................................................ 9
Participation, Attendance & Professionalism ............................................................................... 10
Academic Calendar ....................................................................................................................... 11
Policies & Procedures ................................................................................................................... 12
Topics and Assignments ............................................................................................................... 13
THE PROFESSOR
NAME: Constance Fain
TELEPHONE: (713) 313-7393
EMAIL: constancefain@att.net
LOCATION: 221-F
OFFICE HOURS:
Monday and Wednesday: 3pm to 4pm
Tuesday: 11:15am to 12:15pm
Friday: 3pm to 4pm
(All other times by appointment only)
NOTE FROM THE PROFESSOR:
Office hours for the Spring of 2015 will be announced at the beginning of the second
semester.
Torts I & II
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COURSE BOOKS & MATERIAL
REQUIRED TEXT
1. Schwartz, Kelly & Partlett, Prosser, Wade And Schwartz’s Torts, Foundation Press (12th
ed. 2010)
REFERENCE TEXTS
1. D. Dobbs, Torts, West Group, latest edition
(This is a hornbook on tort law)
2. W. Keeton, D. Dobbs, R. Keeton and D. Owen, Prosser and Keeton on Torts, West
Publishing Co., 1984 (This is a hornbook on tort law)
3. Restatement of Torts. Latest Editions (These restatement provisions are in a series of
books containing the law of torts, commentary, and illustrations).
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COURSE DESCRIPTION & OBJECTIVE
DESCRIPTION:
During the Fall 2014 and Spring 2015 semesters, students will be introduced to basic theories of
liability in Torts. Students will examine in depth the following topics: (1) development of
liability based upon fault; (2) intentional torts; (3) privileges to the intentional torts; (4)
negligence; (5) owners and occupiers of land; (6) wrongful death and survival; (7) defenses; (8)
imputed negligence; (9) strict liability; (10) products liability; (11) nuisance; (12) defamation;
and (13) invasion of privacy. These tort actions involve civil wrongs committed by one person
against another and/or property of another. An overview of “misrepresentation,” “misuse of legal
procedure,” and “interference with advantageous relationships” will be provided if time permits.
Additionally, an attempt will be made to examine the public policy considerations involved in
the establishment and development of all of the torts listed above.
OBJECTIVE:
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Torts I & II
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STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
[Insert Here]
Torts I & II
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GRADING
There will be a total of seven (7) or eight (8) cumulative interim examinations during the Fall
and Spring semesters. Practice exams are cumulative and will be administered throughout both
semesters to aid you in preparing for the interim exams, the final exam, and ultimately the Bar
Examination. Practice Exams will be held on Friday at 3:00 p.m. All interim exams and practice
exams are mandatory. Failure to take these exams will result in a lower final 50% score. Excess
absences and unpreparedness will also result in the 50% score being lowered.
Extra credit opportunities will probably be available, which could enhance your grade in the
course. Extra credit projects will be announced at the appropriate times.
***NOTE:
Torts I & II
The law school has a uniform examination policy for all first-year substantive
courses. Therefore, the final examination in all sections of Torts will be the same,
and it will constitute fifty percent (50%) of the overall course grade. The final
exam will be cumulative and will be administered at the end of the Spring
semester of 2015.
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SCANTRON
Instructions on how to complete a ScanTron:
Do NOT write in this area.
1234
Enter Exam ID No. here.
Law – Section 1
Enter Exam Title, Course,
and/or Section here.
Use a No. 2 Pencil ONLY.
1234
Write (left to right) four (4)
digit exam ID number here.
Also, fill-in four (4) digit
exam ID number here.
Do NOT mark this box.
Do NOT mark this box.
Please Note:
Any incomplete or not properly completed
ScanTron may result in any of the below:
- Return for correction(s),
- Delay in receipt of grade, or
- Failing grade.
Torts I & II
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ACCOMMODATIONS
If you require special accommodations, please fill out the necessary forms with the Dean's office.
Your application and documentation will remain confidential. Your prompt attention will allow
the law school to accommodate you, as soon as it has been made aware of your situation.
Please see:
http://www.tsulaw.edu/student_affairs/docs/2011-2012AccommodationsHandbook.pdf
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PARTICIPATION, ATTENDANCE & PROFESSIONALISM
Each student is required to read the assigned materials before they are discussed in class. Some
of the cases will be assigned to individuals in advance. Additionally, students are expected to
read relevant sections of the Restatement (Second) and (Third) of Torts, and all of the notes
following the cases and other textual information in the textbook. Supplementary materials listed
under “Reference Texts” in this syllabus should be helpful in clarifying tort concepts. From time
to time other reading materials will be assigned
Students are expected to attend class on a regular basis. This class meets from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00
p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday during the Fall semester. See the Spring schedule for
the days and times that the class meets during the Spring Semester. The grade of any person
who has been absent from regular class sessions more than six (6) times during the Fall semester
and six (6) times during the Spring semester may be lowered one (1), two (2) or three (3) grades
depending on the number of excess absences. Points will be deducted from the grades of persons
who
are
unprepared
for
class
when
called
on
to
respond.
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ACADEMIC CALENDAR
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POLICIES & PROCEDURES
Please reference the Thurgood Marshall School of Law Student Rules and Regulations
Handbook.
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TOPICS AND ASSIGNMENTS
TORTS I
(Fall 2014)
WEEK I
(Aug. 18-22)



Overview of Tort Law
Development of Liability Based Upon Fault
Intentional Interference with Person or Property
pp. 1 - 20

Intentional Interference with Person or Property
pp. 20 – 51


Labor Day Holiday (Sept. 1st)
Intentional Interference with Person or Property
pp. 51 - 74

Privileges to Intentional Torts
pp. 74 - 104


Privileges to Intentional Torts
Negligence (Duty and Breach)
pp. 104 - 141

Negligence (Duty and Breach)
pp. 141 - 183

Negligence (Duty and Breach)
pp. 183 - 224
WEEK II
(Aug. 25-29)
WEEK III
(Sept. 1-5)
WEEK IV
(Sept. 8-12)
WEEK V
(Sept. 15-19)
WEEK VI
(Sept. 22-26)
WEEK VII
(Sept. 29-Oct. 3)
Torts I & II
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WEEK VIII
(Oct. 6-10)


Negligence (Duty and Breach)
Causation in Fact
pp. 224 - 272

Causation in Fact
pp. 273 - 302

Proximate or Legal Cause
pp. 303 - 341


Proximate or Legal Cause
Joint Tortfeasors
pp. 341 - 384


Joint Tortfeasors
Duty of Care (“Special Duty” Cases)
pp. 384 - 431


Veterans Day Holiday (Nov. 10th)
Duty of Care (“Special Duty” Cases)



Duty of Care (“Special Duty” Cases)
Owners and Occupiers of Land
November 19th and 20th (2pm to 4pm) * * *
pp. 464 - 533

Damages
pp. 534 - 585
WEEK IX
(Oct. 13-17)
WEEK X
(Oct. 20-24)
WEEK XI
(Oct. 27-31)
WEEK XII
(Nov. 3-7)
WEEK XIII
(Nov. 10-14)
pp. 432 - 464
WEEK XIV
(Nov. 17-21)
WEEK XV
(Nov. 24)
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
Make up Class or Review
(1pm to 4pm) * * *

Final Exam Period

Final Exam Period
WEEK XVI
(Dec.1-5)
WEEK XVII
(Dec. 8-12)
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TORTS II
(Spring 2015)
WEEK I
(Jan. 12-16)

(Damages (1st or 2nd coverage)
pp. 534 - 585


Martin Luther King Holiday (Jan. 19th)
Wrongful Death & Survival
pp. 586 - 608

Defenses
pp. 609 - 662



Defenses
Vicarious Liability
Strict Liability
pp. 662 - 719


Strict Liability
Products Liability
pp. 719 - 760


Products Liability
Presidents’ Day Holiday (Feb. 16th)
WEEK II
(Jan. 19-23)
WEEK III
(Jan. 26-30)
WEEK IV
(Feb. 2-6)
WEEK V
(Feb. 9-13)
WEEK VI
(Feb. 16-20)
Torts I & II
pp. 760 - 799
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WEEK VII
(Feb. 23-27)


Products Liability
Defamation
pp. 799 - 832
pp. 864 - 893

Defamation
pp. 893 - 951


Defamation
Privacy
pp. 951 - 988

Spring Break


Privacy
Nuisance
WEEK VIII
(March 2-6)
WEEK IX
(March 9-13)
WEEK X
(March 16-20)
WEEK XI
(March 23-27)
pp. 988 - 1019
pp. 833 - 850
WEEK XII
(March 30-April 3)


Nuisance
Good Friday Holiday (April 3rd)


Misrepresentation (Overview if Time Permits)
Misuse of Legal Procedure
(Overview Lecture if Time Permits)
pp. 850 - 863
WEEK XIII
(April 6-10)
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pp. 1060-1116
pp. 1041-1059
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WEEK XIV
(April 13-17)


Makeup Sessions or Review
Interference with Advantages Relationships
(Overview Lecture if Time Permits)


Makeup Sessions or Review
Pre-Final Exam (Time: TBA) * * *


Pre-Final Exam (Time: TBA) * * *
Review and Practice Exam
pp. 1117-1177
WEEK XV
(April 20-24)
WEEK XVI
(April 27-29)
** (Class will meet 2 hours on Monday and Wednesday – April 27th & 29th) **
WEEK XVII
(May 4-8)

Final Exam Period

Final Exam Period
WEEK XVIII
(May 11-15)
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