Menu Expand
Law of Tort

Law of Tort

John Cooke

(2018)

Additional Information

Book Details

Abstract

Renowned for its excellent case law coverage and student-friendly approach, this 14th edition of Law of Tort offers a comprehensive, clear and straightforward account of the law, making it a must-read for LLB or GDL students.


Table of Contents

Section Title Page Action Price
Front Cover Front Cover
Half-Title Page i
Title Page iii
Copyright Page iv
Brief contents v
Contents vii
Publisher’s acknowledgements xiv
Preface xx
Table of cases xxii
Table of statutes and other statutory material xxxv
Part 1 General principles of tort law 2
1 General principles 4
Introduction 6
What is a tort? 6
Elements of a tort 6
The interests protected 8
The role of policy 10
Fault and strict liability 11
Objectives of tort 15
Alternative systems of compensation 18
A compensation culture? 21
The boundaries of tort 22
The Human Rights Act 1998 27
Human rights and tort law 30
Access to justice 33
Summary 35
Further reading 37
Part 2 The tort of negligence 40
2 General principles ofnegligence 42
Elements of the tort 44
History of negligence 44
The interests protected 47
Problem areas 48
Liability in contract and tort 50
Summary 54
Further reading 55
3 Duty of care 56
Introduction 58
Historical development 59
The present position 64
Immunity, human rights and public policy 72
Assumption of responsibility 75
Conclusion 78
Summary 81
Further reading 82
4 Psychiatric damage 84
Introduction 86
Historical development 86
The basis of the present law 88
Types of claim 89
Primary victims 89
Secondary victims 95
Problems raised 101
The medical background and public scepticism 101
Conclusion 103
Summary 105
Further reading 106
5 Economic loss 108
Introduction 110
Historical development 111
Acts and statements 111
Arguments against the recovery of pure economic loss in negligence 114
Development of the Hedley Byrne principle 116
Application of the tests in specific fact situations 120
Development of liability for economic loss outside the Hedley Byrne principle 125
The extended Hedley Byrne principle 130
Conclusions 137
Summary 142
Further reading 143
6 Liability for omissions and third parties 144
Introduction 146
Liability for omissions 146
Liability for the acts of third parties 151
Summary 155
Further reading 155
7 Liability of public authorities 156
Introduction 158
The framework for actions 159
First phase – development of the common law 160
Second phase – the influence of human rights 167
Liability of the police 169
The social and education cases 178
Summary 184
Further reading 185
8 Breach of duty and proof of negligence 186
Introduction 188
The reasonable person test 188
Factors determining negligence 189
How does a court judge negligence? 191
What is fault? 199
A compensation culture? 203
Proof of negligence 204
Summary 209
Further reading 210
9 Causation and remoteness of damage 212
Introduction 214
Factual causation 215
Remoteness of damage 239
Novus actus interveniens 248
Summary 257
Further reading 258
10 Defences to negligence 260
Introduction 262
Volenti non fit injuria 262
Contributory negligence 269
Ex turpi causa 279
The rescue cases 287
Summary 289
Further reading 290
Part 3 Specific areas of negligence and breach of statutory duty 292
11 Defective premises 294
Introduction 296
Occupiers’ liability 296
Landlord’s liability 318
Builder’s liability 320
Summary 327
Further reading 328
12 Defective products 330
Introduction 332
Liability in contract 332
Negligence action 333
The narrow rule in Donoghue v Stevenson 333
Consumer Protection Act 1987 339
Compensation culture 348
Summary 349
Further reading 350
13 Breach of statutory duty 352
Introduction 354
Does the statute give rise to an action for damages? 354
Was the duty owed to the claimant? 362
Breach of duty 362
Causation 363
Defences 364
Breach of statutory duty and negligence 364
European legislation 364
Summary 365
Further reading 366
14 Employer’s liability 368
Introduction 370
The employer’s personal duty of care 371
Defences 375
Stress at work 375
Summary 380
Further reading 380
15 Medical negligence and related issues 382
Introduction 384
The battery action 386
Consent and negligence 398
The negligence action 399
Summary 416
Further reading 417
Part 4 Torts based on land 418
16 Trespass to land 420
Introduction 422
Forms of trespass to land 422
Title of the claimant 426
Defences 427
Remedies 429
Summary 433
Further reading 433
17 Nuisance 434
Introduction 436
Statutory nuisances 438
Public nuisance 438
Private nuisance 442
Nuisance and fault 459
Remedies 460
Defences 464
Nuisance and human rights 467
Summary 474
Further reading 475
18 Rylands v Fletcher and liability for fire 478
Introduction 480
The claimant’s case 482
Defences 489
The future of Rylands v Fletcher 492
Liability for fire 494
Summary 496
Further reading 496
Part 5 Miscellaneous torts 498
19 Trespass to the person 500
Introduction 502
Trespass to the person 502
Battery 505
Assault 507
Defences to assault and battery 508
False imprisonment 511
Intentional infliction of emotional or physical harm 516
Summary 522
Further reading 522
20 Defamation and malicious falsehood 524
Introduction 526
Reform 526
Features of defamation 526
Damages 531
Libel and slander 533
The claimant’s case 534
Defamatory meaning 534
Reference to the claimant 541
Publication 543
Libel and internet publication 546
Defences 548
Truth (justification) 549
Honest opinion 550
Absolute privilege 558
Qualified privilege 560
Remedies 575
Parties 576
Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 576
Defamation and the Human Rights Act 1998 576
Malicious falsehood 580
Summary 584
Further reading 585
21 Privacy – Tort of misuse of private information 586
Introduction 588
What is privacy? 589
The general principle 590
The position in English law 591
Case law and principles on privacy since the Human Rights Act 1998 596
Limits to protection 609
Remedies 611
Conclusions on privacy 615
Summary 615
Further reading 616
PART 6 Parties, defences and remedies 618
22 Vicarious liability 620
Introduction 622
Justification for imposing vicarious liability 622
Scope of vicarious liability 623
Who is an employee? 628
In the course of employment 630
The employer’s indemnity 636
Employers and independent contractors 636
Conclusion 637
Summary 638
Further reading 639
23 Limitation 640
Introduction 642
Accrual of causes of action 642
Limitation periods 643
Defective buildings and latent damage 647
Miscellaneous limitation periods 648
Fraud or concealment 648
Summary 648
Further reading 649
24 General defences 650
Introduction 652
Mistake 652
Inevitable accident 653
Necessity 654
Summary 654
25 Remedies 656
Introduction 658
Damages 658
Effect of death on an award of damages for personal injuries 673
What is damage? 677
Injunctions 678
Self-help 679
Summary 681
Further reading 683
GLOSSARY OF TERMS 684
INDEX 686
Back Cover Back Cover