Introduction to English Law of Obligations Law of

Introduction to English Law of Obligations– Law of Torts (Part 1) Dr Jan Halberda (jan. halberda@uj. edu. pl) Introduction to English Law of Obligations© Jan Halberda(UJ)

Law of Obligations • Contracts • Torts (Delicts) • Unjust Enrichment Introduction to English Law of Obligations© Jan Halberda(UJ)

Wrongful acts Crimes Criminal court, Penal law guilty or not guily Torts – Delicts – Civil wrongs Civil court, Civil/Private law liable or not liable Introduction to English Law of Obligations© Jan Halberda(UJ)

Parties in tort • Wrongdoer / Tortfeasor • Victim Introduction to English Law of Obligations© Jan Halberda(UJ)

Liability in tort – essential elements Infringment of rights Fault or blame on the part of defendant Loss suffered by the plaintiff Introduction to English Law of Obligations© Jan Halberda(UJ)

Liability in tort – essential elements • As a rule: Fault or blame on the part of defendant • Exception: Strict liability torts – - dangerous things escaping from land (Rylands v. Fletcher - 1868); - dangerous animals; - some statutory duties Introduction to English Law of Obligations© Jan Halberda(UJ)

Liability in tort – essential elements • As a rule: Loss suffered by the plaintiff • Exceptions: Torts actinable per se, ie: without proof of loss – • libel, • trespass to land, (-> lead only to nominal damages) Introduction to English Law of Obligations© Jan Halberda(UJ)

Liability in tort – essential elements • Damage to the property • Injury to the person [pain and suffering; loss of ability to pursue previous activities or interest; loss of actual or prospective earnings; medical expenses] • Financial loss Introduction to English Law of Obligations© Jan Halberda(UJ)

Remoteness of damage • Link between wrongful act and resulting injury. • Chain of events. • Reasonably foreseeable damage Ruling: Wagon Mound Case (1961) Introduction to English Law of Obligations© Jan Halberda(UJ)

Remoteness of damage • Wagon Mound Case (1961) • Welding: Introduction to English Law of Obligations© Jan Halberda(UJ)

Remoteness of damage • Novus actus interveniens /hospital treatment of car accident victim/ • Defendant must take victims as he finds them /Eggskull rule/ Ruling : R v Blaue (1975) Introduction to English Law of Obligations© Jan Halberda(UJ)

Defences • Statutory authority /Noisy railway/ • Inevitable accident /Electric cables damaged during excavations/ • Act of God /Bridges broken after lakes burst due to rainfall/ Introduction to English Law of Obligations© Jan Halberda(UJ)

Defences • Consent /spectator injured while watching motor race/ • Contributory negligence /lady locked in toilet/ Introduction to English Law of Obligations© Jan Halberda(UJ)

Negligence • Defendant owed plaintiff a legal duty of care. • The duty was broken. • Damage was suffered in consequence. Introduction to English Law of Obligations© Jan Halberda(UJ)

Duty of care • Neighbour rule • [any person closely affected by your conduct, and whom you should reasonably forsee might be injured by you] • Donoghue v. Stevenson (1932) /snail in a bottle/ Introduction to English Law of Obligations© Jan Halberda(UJ)

Duty of care • Hedley Byrne v. Heller and Partners (1963) /careless bank reference on client’s credit/ • Rondel v. Worsley (1969) /public policy reasons; lawyer not liable/ Introduction to English Law of Obligations© Jan Halberda(UJ)

Breach of duty • Standard of care • Reasonable prudent person /Bolton v. Stone (1951)/ • Onus of proof • Res ipsa loquitor /planes usually do not crash/ Introduction to English Law of Obligations© Jan Halberda(UJ)