Routledge

About the Lawcards Series

Torts Lawcards Checklist

Chapter 1: Negligence

  • What are the key elements of negligence?
  • Under what circumstances does a duty of care exist?
  • What are the rules on nervous shock/psychiatric injury?
  • When can you recover for economic loss?
  • When is there liability for making negligent statements?
  • How is the duty of care breached?
  • What is the standard of care?
  • Do the same rules apply for trainees and experts?
  • How do you prove a breach of duty?
  • How does the ‘but for’ test apply? Is it ever modified?
  • What is the significance of a novus actus interveniens?
  • When is damage too remote?
  • When is an employer vicariously liable for torts committed by an employee?

Chapter 2: Occupiers’ liability

  • What is the scope of the 1957 and 1984 Occupiers’ Liability Acts?
  • Who is an occupier?
  • Who is a visitor?
  • What is the standard of care?
  • What are the rules for independent contractors?
  • Can liability be excluded?
  • Does the occupier owe a duty of care to trespassers?
  • How is the duty discharged?

Chapter 3: Torts relating to land

  • What are the differences between private and public nuisance?
  • What factors are taken into account when calculating amenity damage?
  • Are there any defences to an action for private nuisance?
  • What remedies does the court have at its disposal and how have these been applied?
  • What is the rule in Rylands v Fletcher?

Chapter 4: General defences

  • What is the effect of a finding of contributory negligence?
  • Can it ever reduce a damages award by 100 per cent?
  • Is consent/volenti non fit injuria a complete defence?
  • Does it matter if the claimant was involved in an illegal or immoral act?
  • How does the Limitation Act 1980 limit actions?

Chapter 5: Remedies

  • What is the aim of compensation in tort?
  • What are the different heads of damage and when are they awarded?
  • How are damages calculated in personal injury claims?
  • Is the claimant under a duty to mitigate their losses?