Lahore University of Management Sciences

Law 222 – Torts

Fall 2018

Instructor Uzair Kayani

Room No. 1-11
Office Hours By appointment
Email [email protected]
Telephone X 5604
Secretary/TA TBD
TA Office Hours TBD
Course URL (if any)

Course Basics
Credit Hours 4
Lecture(s) Nbr of Lec(s) Per Week 2 Duration 100 minutes each
Recitation/Lab (per week) Nbr of Lec(s) Per Week Duration
Tutorial (per week) Nbr of Lec(s) Per Week Duration

Course Distribution
Core BA/LLB
Elective -
Open for Student Category Open to All
Close for Student Category None

COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course covers the modern law of torts. Tort liability imposes common law duties on
parties that are not bound by contract. Since most private actions are not contracted
for, and since common law duties are not assumed by choice or referendum, the law of
torts is important to the functioning of a civilized society- it marks the boundaries of
civil behavior. We will study materials from Pakistani, British, and American jurisdictions.
The readings include court opinions, statutes, agency letters, scholarly articles,
and excerpts from books. This diversity of sources reflects the myriad influences that
shape the common law.

COURSE PREREQUISITE(S)
Law 102 Introduction to Pakistan Legal System and Law 101 Introduction to Legal Reasoning.
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•
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COURSE OBJECTIVES
Students will learn:
• legal reasoning: studying legal documents, synthesizing and distinguishing arguments, applying principles to new cases;
• Legal writing: presenting legal arguments with citations in clear, concise, and well-structured prose;
• Advocacy: Taking positions on legal questions and defending them extemproaneously in class.

Learning Outcomes
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•
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Grading Breakup and Policy

Assignment(s): 50 % (two research memoranda worth 25% each)

Home Work:
Quiz(s):
Class Participation:15% (Socratic method)
Attendance:
Midterm Examination:
Project:
Final Examination: 35% (open notes; open book)

Examination Detail

NO
Midterm
Exam

Yes
Final Exam Duration: 3 hours
Exam Specifications: open notes, open books, no internet access.

COURSE OVERVIEW
Week/
Recommended Objectives/
Lecture/ Topics
Readings Application
Module

Lecture 1
Introduction
Negligence; the Prima Facie Case; Prima Facie Case:
Duty A. Walter v. Walmart Stores, Inc.
B. Karim Buksh v KESC *
C. Excerpt: W. Farnsworth,
“Presumptions.” *
Lecture 2
Duty in General:
A. Weirum v. RKO General, Inc.
(starting a chase)
B. Boyd v. Racine Currency Exchange
(criminal holdup)
C. Excerpt: W. Farnsworth, “Ex Ante
and Ex Post.” *
Duty Continued: Special Special Relationships:
Relationships; Government A. South v. Amtrak (assisting after
Lecture 3
Liability; the Good Samaritan Rule hurting)
B. Excerpt: W. Farnsworth, “Least
Cost Avoider.” *
Government Liability:
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A. Hassan Nawaz Khan v Municipal
Corporation *
B. Naseem Rashid Mirza v Municipal
Committee *
C. Nazir Hussain v Government of
Sindh *
D. CRS Report for Congress, 2007 :
“The Federal Tort Claims Act.” *
Good Samaritan Rule:
A. Osterlind v. Hill (no duty to assist)
B. Ocotillo West Joint Venture v.
Superior Court * (helping too little)
Duty Continued: Duty to Control Conduct of Others:
Others; Duties of Landowners; A. Theobold v. Dolcimascola (Russian
Duty to Children and Attractive Roulette)
Nuisance; Duties to Licensees and B. Tarasoff v. Regents of the
Invitees; Duty regarding Infliction University of California (Dangerous
of Emotional Distress mental
patient)
Landowners and Attractive
Nuisance:
A. Bramble v. Thompson *
Lecture 4 B. Bennett v. Stanley *
Licensees and Invitees:
A. Campbell v. Weathers (Business
Invitee)
B. Rowland v. Christian (Invitee,
Licensee, Trespasser)
C. California Civil Code § 847 (Statute
changes common law)
Negligent Infliction of Emotional
Distress:
A. Robb v. Pennsylvania Railroad Co. *
Standard of Care: The Reasonable The Reasonale Person:
Person; Res Ipsa Loquitur A. Vaughn v. Menlove (out of order/
reasonable person)
B. Williams v. Hays *
C. Rogers v. Retrum (reckless student
Lecture 5 driver)
D. Excerpt: W. Farnsworth, “Rules
and Standards.”
Res Ipsa Loquitur:
A. Byrne v. Boadle
B. Ybarra v. Spangard *
Evidence of Negligence; A. Gorris v. Scott (inferring negligence
Negligence Per Se; Negligence, from unrelated statute)
Lecture 6 Industry Practices, and Custom; B. Breunig v. American Family
Theory of Negligence; Preview of Insurance Co. (spells of insanity)
Negligence vesus Strict Liability C. Martin v. Herzog (negligence per
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Debate se)
D. The T.J. Hooper (inferring
negligence from business practices
and
custom)
Theory of Negligence:
A. U.S. v. Carroll Towing Co. (The
Learned Hand Test)
B. Article: Richard A. Posner, “A
Theory of Negligence”
C. Article: Richard A. Epstein “A
Theory of Strict Liability”
Causation : A. Zuchowicz v. United States *
B. Beswick v. Carestat (loss of chance,
Cause in Fact- emergency response)
C. McDonald v. Robinson (multiple
The “But For” Test and the tortfeasors; driving)
“Substantial Factor” Test; Multiple D. Kingston v. Chicago &
Lecture 7
Tortfeasors; Apportionment of Northwestern Railways (concurrent
Liability tortfeasors;
fire)
E. Government of Pakistan v. Ishrat
Begum *
F. Summers v. Tice (multiple
tortfeasors; hunting
G. Sindell v. Abbott Laboratories
Causation: A. In re Polemis *
B. Overseas Tankship (U.K.) Ltd. v.
Proximate Cause- Morts Dock & Engineering Co.,
Ltd. (The Wagon Mound case No. 1) *
Foreseeability; Intervening C. Overseas Tankship (U.K.) Ltd. v.
Causes The Miller Steamship Co. (The
Lecture 8 Wagon Mound case No. 2) *
D. Stasulat v. Pacific Gas and Electric
Co. *
E. Palsgraf v. Long Island Railroad
(foreseeability; zone of danger)
F. Ryan v. New York Central Railroad
Co. (negligent fire)
Damages in Negligence Actions ; Pure Economic Loss and Damages:
Pure Economic Loss A. Robins Dry Dock and Repair Co. v.
Flint*
Defenses in Negligence Actions: B. Herskovits v. Group Health
Lecture 9
Defenses:
A. Hunt v. Ohio DRC (snow machine)
B. Li v. Yellow Cab Co. *
C. Murphy v. Steeplechase
Amusement Co. (constructive
assumption)
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D. Hulsey v. Elsinore Parachute
Center (assumption by
contract/disclaimer)
E. Hiett v. Lake Barcroft Community
Association (disclaimers versus
public policy)

Intentional Torts: Prima Facie Case:

The Prima Facie Case A. Vosburg v. Putney *
Battery:
A. Leichtman v. WLW Jacor (tobacco
Types of Intentional Torts: smoke)
Battery; Assault; False B. Bohrman v. Maine Yankee Atomic
Imprisonment; Power (radiation)
Lecture 10 Assault:
A. I de S et Ux v. W de S
False Imprisonment:
A. Sousanis v. Northwest Airlines
B. Martinez v. Martin Memorial (Dept.
Store)
C. Muhammad Yusuf Saleem v
Muhammad Yasin *
Types of Intentional Torts Intentional Infliction of Emotional
Continued: Distress:
Intentional Infliction of Emotional A. Wilson v. Monarch Paper
Distress; Trespass to Chattels; (discrimination)
Conversion; Trespass to Land B. Clinton v. Jones (sexual
harassment)
Lecture 11
Trespass to Chattels and Conversion:
A. Moore v. Regents of Uni. of
California
Trespass to Land:
A. Kopka v. Bell Telephone
B. Article: Trespass by Airplane
C. Desnick v. American Broadcasting
Companies, Inc. *
Defenses to Intentional Torts: Consent:
Consent; Private Necessity; Public A. Koffman v. Garnett
Necessity; Self-Defense; Defense Private Necessity:
of Others; Defense of Property; A. Vincent v. Lake Erie (dock in
Privilrgr of Arrest; Discipline of storm)
Children Public Necessity:
Lecture 12 A. Surocco v. Geary (public
conflagration)
Self-Defense:
A. Laidlaw v. Sage*
Defense of Property:
A. Katko v. Briney (Spring Gun case)
Privilege of Arrest:
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A. Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co v.
Paul *
Discipline of Children:
A. Gibson v. Gibson *
B. Gelbman v. Gelbman

Immunities from Tort Action: Governmental Immunity:

A. Berkovitz v. United States *
Gonvernmental Immunity; Public B. West Punjab Government v Pindi-
Official Immunity; Familial Jhelum Valley Transport Ltd *
Immunities; Charitable C. Pakistan v Muhammad Yaqoob
Lecture 13
Immunities Butt *
Public Official Immunity:
A. Clinton v. Jones *
B. Harlow v. Fitzgerald *
Familial and Charitable Immunities:
A. Cowan v. Hospice Support Care,
Inc. *
Damages Recoverable for Compensatory Damages:
Intentional Torts: A. Texaco v. Pennzoil
Compensatory Damages; Punitive Punitive Damages:
(or Exemplary) Damages A. National By-Products v. Searcy
Lecture 14 House Moving
B. Mathias v, Accor Economy Lodging
C. State Farm v. Campbell
D. Silkwood v. Kerr-McGee (Closing
Arguments)
Strict Liability: Scope of Agent’s Actions
A. Ira S Bushey & Sons v. United
Vicarious Liability States *
B. Lisa M. v. Henry Mayo Newhall
(Divided Readings) Memorial Hospital *
C. Kephart v. Genuity, Inc. *
D. Petrovich v. Share Health Plan of
Illinois, Inc. *
E. Pakistan v Haji Abdul Razzaque *
Liability Beyond the Scope of
Lecture 15 Agency: Negligent Hiring
A. Schechter v. Merchants Home
Delivery, Inc. *
Multiple Principals
A. Charles v. Barrett *
B. Morgan v. ABC Manufacturing *
Limits on Principal’s Liability
A. Burlington Industries v. Ellerth *
B. Article: Alan O. Sykes, “The
Economics of Vicarious Liability,” 93
Yale L.J. 1231 (1984) *
Lecture 16 Strict Liability Continued: Abnormally Dangerous Activities:
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A. Rylands v. Fletcher (out of order)
Ultrahazardous Activities; B. Indiana Belt Harbor R.R. v.
Keeping Wild Animals; Products American Cyanimid
Liability Keeping Animals:
A. Isaacs v. Monkeytown, U.S.A.
Products Liability:
The Least Cost Avoider
A. Escola v. Coca Cola
B. Greenman v. Yuba Power Products
Design and Manufacture Defects
A. Welge v. Planters Lifesavers
Company (manufacturing defect;
supply
chain liability)*
B. Dawson v. Chrysler (Design defect;
designer liability)*
Inadequate Warning:
A. American Tobacco Co. v. Grinnell *
Products Liability Continued: Socialist Critique of Working
Alternative Theories of Product Conditions (this is very lefty!)
Liability; Torts versus Regulation; A. Excerpt: “The Jungle”
Expert Testimony Modern Regulatory Control
A. FTC v. Phusion Products, LLC.
Lecture 17 B. FDA v. Phusion Products, LLC.
PROOF OF CAUSATION : EXPERT
TESTIMONY
A. Daubert v. Merrell Dow
Pharmaceuticals *
B. General Electric Co. v. Joiner *
Nuisance: A. Copart Industries v.
Consolidated Edison *
Private Nusiance; Public B. Article: Ronald Coase, “The
Lecture 18
Nusiance; Property Rights; Problem of Social Cost.”
Transactions Costs C. Article: Calabresi & Melamed,
“Property Rules, Liability Rules, and
Inalienability: One View of the
Cathedral.”
Dignitary Torts: Defamation:
A. New York Times v. Sullivan *
Defamation; Invasion of Privacy B. Bindrim v. Mitchell
Invasion of Privacy:
Lecture 19
A. Briscoe v. Reader’s Digest
Association*
B. Polydoros v. Twentieth Century
Fox Films
C. Shulman v. Group W
D. Solano v. Playgirl, Inc. * (false light)
Lecture 20
Business Torts: Misrepresentation and Implied
Warranty:
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Misrepresentation; Interference A. Edgington v. Fitzmaurice *
with Business Relations; B. Committee on Children’s
Malicious Prosecution Television v. General Foods
Implied Warranties:
A. April Enterprises v. KTTV (fair
dealing and fiduciary duties)
Ommissions:
A. Swinton v. Whitinsville Savings
Bank *
B. In re Acosta *
Interference with Business
Relations:
A. Calbom v. Knutdzon
B. Speakers of Sport v. ProServ
Malicious Prosecution
A. Albertson v. Raboff *
Tort Theory: A. Article: Steven Shavell, “Economic
Analysis of Accident Law.”*
Lecture 21 Economic Analysis of Accident
Law

Tort Theory Continued: A. Article: Schafer et al, “Strict

Liability vs. Negligence”*
Lecture 22 Strict Liability versus Negligence B. Article: Richard Epstein, “Toward a
General Theory of Tort Law – Strict
Liability in Context.”*
Tort Theory Continued: A. Article: Kornhauser & Revesz,
“Joint Tortfeasors.”*
Causation and Foreseeability B. Article: Omri Ben-Shahar,
Lecture 23
“Causation and Foreseeability.” *
C. Article: Kraakman, “Vicarious and
Corporate Civil Liability.”*
Tort Theory: A. Article: John Coffee: “Class Wars:
The Dilemma of the Mass Tort Class
Class Action Lawsuits; No Fault Action.”*
Insurance B. Article: Richard Epstein, “Class
Lecture 24 Actions: Aggregation, Amplification,
and Distortion.”
C. Article: “Ian McEwin, “No Fault
Compensation Systems.” *

Tort Theory: A. Basic v. Levinson *

B. Article: Langevoort, “Basic at
Lecture 25 From Misrepresentation to “Fraud Twenty: Rethinking Fraud-on-the-
on the Market.” Market.” *

Tort Theory: A. Article: Susan Rose-Ackerman

Lecture 26 “Regulation and the Law of Torts.” *
Regulation vs. Tort
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Tort Theory: A. Article: Shavell & Polinsky, “The
Lecture 27
Uneasy Case for Products Liability.”*
Products Liability B. Article: Goldberg & Zipursky, “The
Easy Case for Products Liability.”*
Lecture 28 Examination GOOD LUCK!

Textbook(s)/Supplementary Readings
Readings marked with an asterisk (*)will be distributed in a reading packet. Unmarked
readings are in the freely available two-volume torts casebook:
Eric E. Johnson, “A Torts Compendium” (2010)
Electronic copy available at:
http://ssrn.com/abstract=1664446
or
http://www.ericejohnson.com/projects/torts_compendium/
Please obtain a hard or electronic copy of the casebook.