1. Jody Blanke Professor of Computer Information Systems and Law
Tort Law
Jody Blanke
Professor of Computer Information Systems and Law

2. Torts
Strict Liability
Intentional Torts
Negligence

3. Strict Liability Liability without fault Ultrahazardous activities
neither intent nor negligence need be shown
Ultrahazardous activities
e.g., dynamite blasting
e.g., ownership of wild animals
lions and tigers and bears …

4. Intentional Torts Battery Assault False Imprisonment
Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress

5. Defamation Libel and slander Truth is a defense
Against media defendants, public officials and public figures must show “actual malice”
e.g., Richard Jewell - Wikipedia, CourtTV

6. Invasion of Privacy Appropriation of name or likeness
e.g., Michael Jordan Wine
Intrusion upon seclusion
e.g., Jackie O, Holiday Inn, Mazzio’s Pizza, Sean Penn, Bill Gates, Bob Dylan, Katz, Kyllo
False light
e.g., Parade Magazine Teenage Prostitution
Publication of private embarrassing facts
e.g., “Joe Hero”
Silvia Leyva at Café Intermezzo

7. Trespass Trespass to land Conversion
Trespass to personal property (trespass to chattels)

8. Interference with Contractual Relations
$10.5B award against Texaco for interfering with Penzoil’s contract to buy Getty (later settled for $3B)
“Ditch the dish”

9. Negligence
Duty
Breach of Duty
Causation
Injury

10. Duty of Care Reasonable person standard Is there a legal duty?
e.g., Lady Di, Seinfeld finale, Good Samaritan laws

11. Breach of Duty
What would the reasonable person do in similar circumstances?
Professional standard – malpractice
Negligence per se
Res ipsa loquitur

12. Causation Actual cause (causation in fact) “but for” analysis
e.g., Rube Goldberg cartoons, Mouse Trap

13. Causation Proximate cause (legal cause) foreseeabilty
e.g., Palsgraf v. Long Island Railroad
e.g., Crankshaw v. Piedmont Driving Club

14. Injury
Plaintiff must prove injury
Injury need not be personal injury

15. Defenses to Negligence
Assumption of Risk
Fellow-Servant Rule
Contributory Negligence
e.g., the “rolling stop”
Comparative Negligence
pure comparative negligence
modified comparative negligence (50% rule)