Chapter3TortLaw

BusinessLaw
60minutes
HighSchool(912)

NBEABusinessLawStandards:
Distinguishbetweenatortandacrime.
Differentiatebetweenandgiveexamplesofnegligenceandintentionaltorts.
Describethepenaltiesavailableincriminallawandtheremediesavailableintortlaw.

LearningObjectives:
Studentswillbeableto
Compareandcontrastcharacteristicsofatortandacrime.
Explainapersonsrightsanddutiesinrelationtotortlaw.
Describetheremediesavailableintortlaw.
Classifythemainintentionaltortsagainstpeopleandproperty.
Resources:
SeinfeldClipSeinfeldKramerCafeLattes(JackieChiles)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVM69LLn5s
QuickWritepaper(sheet)
StudentGuide
PowerPoint3.1

Lesson:

1. Hook
o Show
Seinfeldclip
tostudentsatthebeginningofclasstohookthemintothe
contentofthechapter(4minutes)
o Askstudentsquestionsaboutthevideo/similarlawsuitstheymayhaveheardof
alludingtotheLiebeckv.McDonaldscase.

2. Quick

Write
:Providestudentswithapromptforaquickwrite.(510minutes)
o A79yearoldwomanboughtacupofcoffeefromthedrivethruwindowat
McDonalds.Sheputthecupbetweenherkneesandtriedtoopenthelidatadd
creamandsugar.Thecoffeespilledandcausedthirddegreeburnstoover6%of
herbody.Shespent8daysinthehospital,hadtoundergoskingraftoperations,
andproceededtoseekmedicaltreatmentfortwoyearsaftertheincident.
Hassomeonedonesomethingwrong?
Whatwasawrongdoing?
Hassomeonebeenharmed?
Shouldthevictimbecompensated?

Linde

3. Lastchapteryoulearnedaboutcrimes.Cansomeonetellmeanimportantcomponentofa
crime?
Lookforstudentstosaysomethingabout
thepublicgood.

4. IntroduceTortstothestudentsandprovideSection3.1guide.Askifanyoneknowswhat
atortis.
a. Tortlawisbasedontherightsoftheindividual
b. Onepersoninterferingwithrightsofanother,tortisinvolved
i. askwhatarerightstheydontwantanothertointerferewith
c. Tort
notapastry
i. derivedfromtwistedorwrong
ii. wrongcanbeintentionalorunintentional
iii. personhasrightstoseekcompensationforinjuriesordamage
iv. lawoftortsseektorestoreinjuredpersontopositionheorshewasin
beforethetortwascommittedmadewhole
1. sueforinabilitytohospitalcharges,work,bookscholarship,etc.

5. Begin
Lecture
with
PowerPoint3.1
explaineachtermandprovideexamplesso
studentscangraspconcepts
o Studentscancompletetheguidealongwiththelecture
o ChecksforUnderstanding
builtinthePPT(examples,scenarios)

6. AtthecompletionofthelectureandPowerPoint,
debrief
withthestudentsandask
studentswhatquestionstheyhave.Providesomefollowupquestionsifnecessary.

Linde

Chapter3NegligenceandStrictLiability
BusinessLaw
60minutes
HighSchool(912)

NBEABusinessLawStandards:
Differentiatebetweenandgiveexamplesofnegligenceandintentionaltorts.
Explaintheconceptsofthereasonablepersontestandproximatecause.
Explaintheconceptofstrictliabilityanddescribecircumstancesunderwhichitis
imposed.

LearningObjectives:
Studentswillbeableto...
Defineanddescribetheelementsofnegligence.
Describewhenthereasonablepersontestandforeseeabilitytestareusedincivilcases.
Explaintheconceptofstrictliability.
Discussanddevelopcategoriesandorganizethetermsfromthechapterintocategories.

Resources:
PowerPoint3.2
WordSortSheetofTerms
WorkSortHeadings(ifneeded)
WordSortInstructions
Accesstoacomputer(mindmeister.com)orposterpaper

LessonPlan:

1. Hook.
Poseanexampleofatortforstudentstoconsider.
Astudentcrossesthestreetonthefirstdayofschoolinthecrosswalk.
Meanwhile,adriverdoesnotseethepersonwalkingandturnsrightatthelight
intotheperson.Thedriverhitsthestudentwithhiscarandthestudentwindsup
withabrokencollarbone.
i. Hassomeonedonesomethingwrong?
ii. Whatwasawrongdoing?
iii. Hassomeonebeenharmed?
iv. Shouldthevictimbecompensated?
v. AskWhatactionscanthestudenttake,ifany.
Studentswillrevisitthisscenariothroughoutthelesson.

2. Activatestudentsknowledgebyrecallingwhatwasdiscussedinthepreviouslesson
Askstudentstorecallthedifferencebetweenatortandacrimebyaskinghow
theywouldclassifythepreviousexample.
Reviewtheobjectivesfrompreviouslessonresolveconcerns,answerquestions.

3. AskstudentswhatNegligencemeansandprovideanexample.
Linde

 askwhyanactofcarelessnessmightresultinlegalaction
discusstypesofcarelessnesstheyhavewitnessedthatcouldcauseharmtoa
personorproperty

4. Begin
PowerPoint

Revisittheexamplethroughoutthelessontoallowthetermstoconnecttoareal
worldexample

5. WordSort
.Providestudentsasheetoftermsfromthechapterandplaceingroupsof2
or3.Theirgoalistoorganizethetermsintocategoriesthattheycreateontheirown.

**Differentiation:Ifstudentsarestrugglingtodeveloptheirowncategories,you
canprovideadditionaltermsthatcanbeusedasthecategoriestomovestudents
towardthegoalofsortingthetermsintomeaningfulgroupings.Ifstudentsneed
anextrapush,provideblankstripsofpapertoincorporateintothesorttoseeif
studentscancreatemoretermsthatwouldfitinthecategoriestheycreated,or
leaveafewtermsoutandchallengestudentstocompletethelistsbycomingup
withthemissingterms.

6. Whengroupshavecompletedthewordsort,askgroupstosharewiththeclass(posteror
mindmeister).Nudgestudentstoprovideexplanationfortheirchoiceofcategorieswhen
presenting.

7. Havestudentssubmitacopyoftheirwordsortfor
formativeassessment.

Linde

Chapter3TortLaw
BusinessLaw
2classes90minuteseach
HighSchool(912)

NBEABusinessLawStandards:
Differentiatebetweenandgiveexamplesofnegligenceandintentionaltorts.
Describethepenaltiesavailableincriminallawandtheremediesavailableintortlaw.
Analyzespecificcasesbystatingthefacts,findingthelegalquestions,applyingthe
laws,andresolvingtheissues.

LearningObjectives:
Studentswillbeableto
Analyzeafamouscaseintortlawandapplywhattheyhavelearnedabouttortlawto
howthemediaportraysthelaw.
Reflectuponearlierresponsesandformulateanopinionaboutcivillawsuits
Discusswiththeirpeersactionsthathavebeentakentoreducefrivolouslawsuitsand
theimplicationstheseactionshaveonthepartiesinvolved.

Resources:
HotCoffeeDocumentary
HotCoffeeWorksheet
QuickWrite

Lesson:

1. Explaintostudentsthepurposeofthelesson(objectives)andprovidethemwiththe
HotCoffeeWorksheet.
a. Askthemtocompletethefrontpageduringthevideo.

2. PlayHotCoffeeDocumentary(throughparttwocapsondamages)
a. Monitorthatstudentsarestayingattentiveandcompletingtheworksheet
provided.

3. Whenthemovieiscomplete,allowstudentstimetoreviewtheirresponses.Passback
studentsQuickWriteswhiletheyarereviewingtheirnotesonthecase.

4. Think,Pair,Share.Havestudentsrevisittheirquickwriteandthencompletetheback
sideoftheHotCoffeeWorksheet.Afterstudentshavebeengiventimetoformulatean
opinion,havestudentspairupanddiscussthesequestionswithapartner.
5. Bringtheclassbacktoawholegroupdiscussionbyselectingstudentgroupstooffer
uptheiropinions,evolutionofopinionfrombeforeandafterviewingHotCoffee,etc.

Trytohavestudentswithdifferingopinionssharetheirthoughtsaswelltodevelop
bothsides.

6. CollectWorksheetforacompletiongradeandtochecktoseewhatquestionsstudents
stillhaveafterallofthecontenthasbeenpresented.

7. Transitiontotellingtheclassthatwehaveformallylearnedtermsabouttortlaw,and
seensomecasesthatwerequitepopularinthemedia.Thiswillbethebasisoftheir
assessmentforthischapter.

8. IntroducetheLiebeckCaseStudentAssessmenttotheclass.

9. Answeranyquestionsstudentshave.

10. Allowworktimeforstudentstobegintheirproject.Monitortheirprogresstobesure
theystayontask.

2/14/2015

What is a tort?

Tort Law

A tort is a private wrong committed

by one person against another

3.1

Elements of a Tort
1.

Possession of certain rights by an innocent party

2. A violation of those rights by the tortfeasor

Whos Who?
Victim

Tortfeasor

Commits the tort

Injured person

Defendant in lawsuit

Plaintiff in lawsuit
Innocent party

3. A resulting injury that somehow hurts the person

whose rights were violated

Criminal Law vs. Tort Law

A Crime is a wrong committed against society

Penalties
The purpose of criminal law is to PUNISH

OFFENDERS
A Tort is a wrong committed against a particular

person or property

The purpose of tort law is to COMPENSATE VICTIM

Can an act be both?

2/14/2015

Remedies
Remedy is the legal means of enforcing a right or

correcting a wrong
In tort cases, remedies usually consist of the

tortfeasor paying an amount of money (DAMAGES)

to injured party

Types of remedies
Damages can be awarded for:
Pain

and suffering
medical expenses
Replacing or repairing property
Lost wages
Paying

Intentional Torts against Persons

Actions that deliberately hurt, embarrass or scare

people
Assault
Battery
False imprisonment
Defamation
Invasion of privacy
Intentional infliction of emotional distress
Trespass

Assault or Battery?

Assault and Battery

Assault occurs as soon as you are afraid of immediate

harm to your body

A battery is unlawful, unwanted touching
Committed even if the physical contact is not harmful*
Can

also be touching something closely

associated with persons body

False Imprisonment

If someone interferes with your right to move around

freely
Law enforcement can hold someone in a
reasonable way for a reasonable time

2/14/2015

False Imprisonment

Defamation
When someone lies about another person in a way

the hurts the innocent persons reputation

Libel lies about a person in written, printed or
recorded form
Slander verbal or spoken lies
*Public figures are an exception
Malice

Defamation

must be involved

Invasion of Privacy
Interfering with a persons right to be left alone
Right

to be free from unwanted publicity

must stay out of your private matters

People

Confidential

records cannot be used or discussed

outside of business or organization
Cannot use likenesses or name without
permission
Slander or Libel?

Invasion of Privacy

Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress

When someone causes great emotional or mental

distress to another even when no intent to cause

physical harm

2/14/2015

Outrageous!

Intentional Torts against Property

Some intentional torts are actions that affect

property
Trespass
Conversion
Nuisance
Disparagement

Trespass

Trespass

Interfering with someones real property

Real

property is land and things built on land

include things under the property such as
mineral or oil

Can

Conversion

Conversion

Interfering with a persons right to personal property

You

lend out your personal property and

someone doesnt return it, interfering with your
right to ownership
Your property is converted to his/her

2/14/2015

Nuisance

Nuisance

Anything that interferes with the enjoyment of

property

Loud music
Foul odors
Private nuisance affects one person/household
Public nuisance affects a lot of people

Disparagement

Disparagement

Lies about objects

Quality

of ownership
claims something is faulty or of poor
quality to interfere with a sale

Someone

You

must prove that you actually lost money as a

result of the lie

2/14/2015

Negligence

Negligence and Liability

3.2

The tort that results when one person carelessly

injures another.
Being

less careful that a REASONABLE PERSON

would be in the same situation

Case Study

Elements of Negligence
1. The defendant owed the plaintiff a duty of care
2. The defendant breached the duty by being

careless

3. The defendants carelessness was the proximate

cause of the harm

4. The plaintiff was actually hurt by the defendants

carelessness

1. Duty of Care
The obligation to use a reasonable standard of care

to prevent injury to others

2. Breach of Duty
When one person fails to use reasonable care in

dealing with another person

How careful do you have to be?
Reasonable Person Test: an objective test (it does not
change because the injured party changes) that evaluates
whether a person was as careful as a reasonable person
would be in the same situation

2/14/2015

3. Proximate Cause
When the link between the negligent conduct and

the injury is strong enough to be recognized by law

Courts use a foreseeability test to determine

proximate cause
Foreseeability test Was the injury to the victim
foreseeable at the time of the negligent conduct?
If the injury was foreseeable at the time of the
negligent conduct, then proximate cause exists

4. Actual Harm
If the victim was not actually harmed, there can be

no negligence
Examples of Actual Harm
Injury
Property destroyed
Lose a lot of money

Defenses to Negligence
Eliminate one of the 4 Elements of Negligence

Contributory Negligence
If the defendant can prove that plaintiff did

something to help cause the harm

Contributory Negligence
Comparative Negligence
Assumption of Risk

Comparative Negligence
Carelessness of the defendant is compared to the

carelessness of the plaintiff

Damages are reduced by the percentage of

carelessness

50% Rule

Assumption of Risk
Plaintiff knew of the risk involved and still took a

chance
Examples
Skydiving
Bungee Jumping
Windsurfing

2/14/2015

Strict Liability

Strict Liability

(Absolute Liability)

Product Liability: When people are injured by

A legal doctrine that says that some activities are so

dangerous that liability will always follow any injury

that results from those activities
Using explosives
Keeping wild animals

defective products
Manufacturer and Seller are liable
Limits

to product Liability: If seller does not

usually sell that product, they are not held liable

Survival Statutes and Wrongful Death Statutes

Today the family of a plaintiff that dies during a

lawsuit or whose death is the result of an injury, can

continue with the lawsuit

Chater 3 Tort Law

QuickWrite

A79yearoldwomanboughtacupofcoffeefromthedrivethruwindowatMcDonalds.Sheput
thecupbetweenherkneesandtriedtoopenthelidtoaddcreamandsugar.Thecoffeespilled
andcausedthirddegreeburnstoover16%ofherbody.Shespent8daysinthehospital,hadto
undergoskingraftoperations,andproceededtoseekmedicaltreatmentfortwoyearsafterthe
incident.

1. Hassomeonedonesomethingwrong?Whyorwhynot?

2. Whatwasthewrongdoing?

3. Hassomeonebeenharmed?

4. Shouldthevictimbecompensated?Explain.

QuickWrite

A79yearoldwomanboughtacupofcoffeefromthedrivethruwindowatMcDonalds.Sheput
thecupbetweenherkneesandtriedtoopenthelidtoaddcreamandsugar.Thecoffeespilled
andcausedthirddegreeburnstoover16%ofherbody.Shespent8daysinthehospital,hadto
undergoskingraftoperations,andproceededtoseekmedicaltreatmentfortwoyearsafterthe
incident.

1. Hassomeonedonesomethingwrong?Whyorwhynot?

2. Whatwasthewrongdoing?

3. Hassomeonebeenharmed?

4. Shouldthevictimbecompensated?Explain.

Linde

Chapter3

BusinessLaw

Name:____________________________

IntentionalTorts

TypeofTort

Definition

Example/Picture

Assault

Battery

FalseImprisonment

Defamation

InvasionofPrivacy

IntentionalInflictionofEmotional
Distress

Trespass

Conversion

Nuisance

Disparagement

Linde

Chapter3

Negligence:

ElementsofNegligence
1.

2.
a. ReasonablePersonTest

3.
a. ForeseeabilityTest

4.

DefensestoNegligence
1.

2.

3.

StrictLiability:

ProductLiability:

SurvivalandWrongfulDeathStatutes:

Linde

BusinessLaw

Name:____________________________

Names:____________________________

WordSort

Inthisactivity,youwillfindseveraltermsdiscussedinclassandinthechapter.Yourgoalisto
discussanddevelopcategoriesandorganizethetermsprovidedintoyourcategories.

1. Cutoutthetermsfromthegivensheet.
2. Discusswithotherscommonfeaturesamongtheseterms.
3. Developcategoriesforthegiventerms.
4. Recreateyoursortontoaposterorwordwebtopresent.
5. Defendyourreasoning!Bepreparedtoanswerwhyyousortedyourtermsthisway.

Evaluationcriteria:
10points
Useofalltheterms(pointforeach)
5points
Creationofcategoriesrelevantandmeaningful
5points
Justificationexplainhowyouorganizedyourtermswhenyoupresent
20points

Names:______________________________

WordSort

Inthisactivity,youwillfindseveraltermsdiscussedinclassandinthechapter.Yourgoalisto
discussanddevelopcategoriesandorganizethetermsprovidedintoyourcategories.

1. Cutoutthetermsfromthegivensheet.
2. Discusswithotherscommonfeaturesamongtheseterms.
3. Developcategoriesforthegiventerms.
4. Recreateyoursortontoaposterorwordwebtopresent.
5. Defendyourreasoning!Bepreparedtoanswerwhyyousortedyourtermsthisway.

Evaluationcriteria:
10points
Useofalltheterms(pointforeach)
5points
Creationofcategoriesrelevantandmeaningful
5points
Justificationexplainhowyouorganizedyourtermswhenyoupresent
20points

Actual Harm

Disparagement

Assault

Duty of Care

Assumption of Risk

Intentional Infliction
of Emotional
Distress

Battery

Invasion of Privacy

Breach of Duty

Nuisance

Comparative
Negligence

Product Liability

Contributory
Negligence

Proximate Cause

Conversion

Trespass

Against Persons

Intentional Torts

Against Property

Negligence

Defenses

Strict Liability

Elements

Tort Law

Chapter 3 Word Sort

Tort Law

Intentional Torts
Against Persons
Assault
Battery
False Imprisonment
Defamation
Invasion of Privacy
Intentional Infliction of Emotional
Distress

Linde

Negligence Torts
Against Property
Trespass
Conversion
Nuisance
Disparagement

Elements
Duty of Care
Breach of Duty
Proximate Cause
Actual Harm

Defenses
Contributory Negligence
Comparative Negligence
Assumption of Risk

Strict Liability Torts

Product Liability

Tort Law Final Project:

YouareacourtreporterfromthatcaseofLiebeckv.McDonalds.Yourjobasthecourtreporter
istotranscribethecase.Youmaysummarizethecase,oractuallyquotewhathasbeensaid.

Structureyourreportunderfourseparateheadingsidentifytheparties,premiseofthecase,
restatethecase,closingremarks.

1. IdentifythePartiesInvolved (~35sentences).
Whoistheplaintiff?
Whoisthedefendant?
Whendidthistakeplace?

2. PremiseoftheCase
(~35sentences)
Isthiscaseatortoracrime?
Provethatyouknowthedifferencebetweenthetwo.
ExplainwhyMs.Liebeckiseligibletoraisethisaccusationinthecourtoflaw.

3. RestatetheCase
(~2paragraphs)

Plaintiff:
Classifythetypeoftortthatthiscasealignswith.
Provideanddescribeallelementsofatortandapplythemtothecase.
Describehowalloftheelementsofnegligencewerepresentinthiscase,
includingthetwotestswediscussed.

Defense:
CanMcDonaldsmakeanydefensesinthiscase?Describe
all
defensesandifitis
possibletoclaimthem.

4. ClosingRemarks
(1paragraph)
Basedonthechapter,whatremediesareavailabletoMsLiebeckinthiscase?
Whatremediesdidshereceive?
Giventheclaimsyouhavemade,whatisyourpersonalopinionoftheHot
Coffeecase.Providejustificationastowhyyoubelievethisanddetermineifthe
settlementwasjust.

Name: _________________________
Points Possible
Earned Points

Tort Law Final Project Grading Critera

Identify the Parties Involved
Identify the Plaintiff

Identify the Defendant

Setting of the case

2
Premise of the Case

Distinguish if the case is a tort or a crime

What is the difference between a tort and a crime

Explain how this case is possible

Restate the Case

Classify the Tort

Describe the elements of a tort and apply them to the case

Describe the elements of negligence and apply them to the case

Describe two tests in negligence and apply them to the case

Describe the defenses to negligence

Determine if each defense can be used

Closing Remarks
State remedies available and actually awarded in the case

Provide your opinion about the case and justify your reasons

Total

30

Comments/Feedback