Torts Essay 1
Torts Essay 1
Torts Essay 1
QUESTION 1
Homeowner kept a handgun on his bedside table in order to protect himself against
intruders. A statute provides that “all firearms must be stored in a secure container that is
fully enclosed and locked.” Burglar broke into Homeowner’s house while Homeowner was
out and stole the handgun.
Burglar subsequently used the handgun in an attack on Patron in a parking lot belonging to
Cinema. Patron had just exited Cinema around midnight after viewing a late movie. During
the attack, Burglar approached Patron and demanded that she hand over her purse. Patron
refused. Burglar drew the handgun, pointed it at Patron, and stated, “You made me mad, so
now I’m going to shoot you.”
Patron fainted out of shock and suffered a concussion. Burglar took her purse and fled, but
was later apprehended by the police. Cinema had been aware of several previous attacks
on its customers in the parking lot at night during the past several years, but provided no
lighting or security guard.
Under what theory or theories, if any, might Patron bring an action for damages against
Homeowner, Burglar, or Cinema? Discuss.
PATRON V. HOMEOWNER—NEGLIGENCE
To prevail in a negligence action, Patron must show that (i) Homeowner owed her a duty of care,
(ii) Homeowner breached that duty, (iii) the breach of duty was the actual cause and the proximate
cause of the harm, and (iv) Patron suffered damages.
Here, Homeowner kept his handgun out on a bedside table. Accordingly, he owed a duty of care
to anyone who might be at risk of injury from the gun because it was not secured. Under the
majority approach, Patron would have to establish that she was in the zone of danger from the
unsecured gun. This may be difficult because the gun was taken by a thief and Patron was not on
Homeowner’s premises when it was used against her. Nevertheless, a court could find that leaving
the gun unsecured on a bedside table where it could be stolen created a foreseeable risk of injury
to any victims of the thief, such as Patron.
Alternatively, the standard of care in a common law negligence case may be established by
proving the applicability to that case of a statute providing for a criminal penalty. If that is done,
a specific duty imposed by the statute will replace the general common law duty of care. For
the statutory standard to apply, the plaintiff must show that (i) she is in the class intended to be
protected by the statute, and (ii) the statute was intended to prevent the type of harm that the
plaintiff suffered.
Here, the statute imposed a specific duty that all firearms were to be stored in a secure container
that is fully enclosed and locked. Homeowner would argue that the class of persons intended to
be protected by the statute is limited to persons residing in or visiting Homeowner’s home, and
that the statute was intended to protect those persons, in particular children, from accidentally
shooting themselves or someone else with the gun. On the other hand, Patron would argue that the
statute was intended to protect anyone against whom the gun was used without permission of the
owner, and that class includes victims of a thief of the gun. Patron would also argue that the harm
intended to be prevented was not just from being shot but also from normal reactions to being
threatened by the gun, such as fainting and injuries caused as a result. Because the facts do not
indicate the intent of the legislature in enacting the statute, it is not clear whether Patron will be
able to rely on the statute to establish the standard of care.
Breach of Duty
When the defendant’s conduct falls below the level required by the applicable standard of care,
he has breached his duty. If a statutory standard of care applies, most courts consider violation
of the statute as “negligence per se,” i.e., a conclusive presumption of duty and breach of duty. A
minority of courts hold that the violation is only either (i) a rebuttable presumption as to duty and
breach, or (ii) prima facie evidence of negligence.
Even if Patron cannot rely on violation of the statute to establish breach of duty, she has a strong
argument that a reasonably prudent handgun owner would store his gun in a safe place so that no
one other than the owner would have access to it. While Homeowner might argue that locking
the gun up would make it harder to grab in an emergency, the existence of the statute indicates
that the legislature believed the risk is greater from leaving the gun out where anyone could get it,
including an intruder. Given the minimal burden on Homeowner of securing or hiding his gun, it
is likely that Homeowner’s failure to do so breached his common law duty of due care.
Actual Cause
The defendant’s conduct is the actual cause of the plaintiff’s injury if the injury would not have
occurred but for the defendant’s conduct. Here, but for Homeowner’s failure to store the gun
in a secure locked container, Burglar would not have stolen the gun and used it against Patron.
Furthermore, Homeowner’s conduct clearly was a substantial factor in bringing about Patron’s
injury. Hence, it is likely that Homeowner’s conduct will be deemed a cause in fact of Patron’s
injury.
Proximate Cause
In addition to being the actual cause, the defendant’s conduct must also be the proximate cause
of the injury. The general rule of proximate cause is that the defendant is liable for all harmful
results that are the normal incidents of, and within the increased risk caused by, his conduct. In
an indirect cause case, an intervening force comes into motion after the defendant’s negligent
conduct and combines with it to cause the plaintiff’s injury. If the defendant’s negligence created a
foreseeable risk that this intervening force would harm the plaintiff, the defendant is liable for the
harm caused. Under this rule, if the defendant’s negligence created a foreseeable risk that a third
person would commit a crime or intentional tort, the defendant’s liability will not be cut off by the
crime or tort. On the other hand, if the crime or tort is not foreseeable, it will be deemed a super-
seding force and cut off the defendant’s liability for the harm.
Here, Homeowner will contend that it is not foreseeable that his leaving the gun out would result
in Patron’s injury at the Cinema parking lot, and that the criminal actions of Burglar constituted
a superseding intervening force. On the other hand, Patron will argue that it was foreseeable that
someone would steal Homeowner’s unsecured gun and use it in a crime against someone else. The
fact that Homeowner kept a gun on his bedside table to protect himself against intruders suggests
that Homeowner was aware of a risk of a break-in. Someone breaking into his home is very likely
to steal a gun that is left out on a table, and it is foreseeable that such a person will use the gun
in an attempt to steal from another person. Hence, Burglar’s conduct probably will not cut off
Homeowner’s liability for his negligent conduct.
Damages
A plaintiff is entitled to be compensated from the tortfeasor for all her damages, even if the extent
or severity of the harm is unforeseeable (i.e., the tortfeasor takes his victim as he finds her). Here,
Patron suffered a concussion after fainting from the shock of being threatened with a gun. This
constitutes recoverable damages and completes Patron’s prima facie case.
Defenses—Conduct of Patron
A plaintiff in a negligence case is also held to a standard of reasonable care. At common law, a
plaintiff whose negligence was found to have contributed to her injury was completely barred
Here, Homeowner could argue that Patron was contributorily negligent by walking to her car late
at night, apparently by herself, and that Patron assumed the risk of injury by refusing to hand over
her purse to Burglar when confronted by him. Patron will respond that her conduct was not unrea-
sonable. There was no security guard to escort her to her car and nothing suggests that she was
aware of the previous attacks on Cinema customers. Furthermore, Burglar did not draw the gun
until after Patron refused to give him her purse. Nothing indicates that she was aware that he had
a gun when he first demanded the purse, so it is not likely that she will be deemed to have volun-
tarily assumed the risk of being threatened with a gun.
In conclusion, it is a close question whether Homeowner will be deemed to owe a duty to Patron.
If such a duty is found, Patron is likely to prevail in her negligence action against Homeowner.
PATRON V. BURGLAR
Assault
To establish a prima facie case for assault, the plaintiff must show (i) an act by the defendant
creating a reasonable apprehension in the plaintiff of immediate harmful or offensive contact
to the plaintiff’s person, (ii) intent by the defendant to bring about such apprehension, and (iii)
causation. Here, Burglar drew a handgun, pointed it at Patron, and told her that he was going to
shoot her. His act caused Patron a reasonable apprehension of imminent harm, and his act was
intentional. Hence, he would be liable for the tort of assault. While Patron does not need to show
damages to satisfy the prima facie case, she can recover damages from the injury she suffered
from fainting, because her fainting was caused by the assault.
Battery
To establish a prima facie case for battery, the plaintiff must show (i) an act by the defendant that
brings about harmful or offensive contact to the plaintiff’s person, (ii) intent by the defendant to
bring about such contact, and (iii) causation. For purposes of battery, anything connected to the
plaintiff’s person is viewed as part of the plaintiff’s person. Furthermore, a person may recover for
battery even though she is not conscious of the harmful or offensive contact. Here, Patron’s injury
from fainting was caused by the assault, but she also may have suffered offensive contact when
her purse was taken. The facts do not specify, but Patron may have still had her purse in her hands
or on her shoulder when she fainted. If so, Burglar intentionally committed an offensive contact
when he took the purse from her person and therefore would be liable for battery.
False Imprisonment
To establish a prima facie case for false imprisonment, the plaintiff must show (i) an act or
omission by the defendant that confines or restrains the plaintiff to a bounded area, (ii) intent on
the defendant’s part to confine or restrain the plaintiff, and (iii) causation. False imprisonment
may be accomplished by a threat of force against the plaintiff, and it is immaterial, except as to
the extent of damages, how short the time period of the restraint was. Here, Patron was restrained
by Burglar’s demand that she hand over her purse in conjunction with his drawing a gun on her.
She was restrained from fleeing because of the threat of force, and Burglar intended to restrain
her until he could acquire her purse. Hence, Burglar is liable to Patron for false imprisonment.
Trespass to Chattels
As to the purse and its contents, the issue is whether Burglar will be liable for conversion or only
trespass to chattels. The elements of trespass to chattels are (i) an act by the defendant that inter-
feres with the plaintiff’s right of possession in the chattel, (ii) intent to do the act that brings about
the interference, (iii) causation, and (iv) damages. While actual damages are required, the loss of
possession itself is deemed to be an actual harm. If the interference with the chattel is so serious
in nature or in consequences as to amount to a claim of dominion over the chattel, the interference
will constitute a conversion. Here, Burglar intended to rob Patron of her purse and its contents,
and he did so once she had fainted. Patron was dispossessed of the purse and its contents, satis-
fying the damage element. As discussed below, however, Burglar’s conduct was sufficiently
serious in nature as to constitute a conversion.
Conversion
To prove a prima facie case of conversion, the plaintiff must show (i) an act by the defendant
interfering with the plaintiff’s right of possession in the chattel that is serious enough in nature or
consequence to warrant that the defendant pay the full value of the chattel, (ii) intent to do the act
that brings about the interference with the plaintiff’s right of possession, and (iii) causation. As
stated above, Burglar intended to rob Patron of her purse and its contents, and he did so once she
had fainted. Burglar’s conduct in dispossessing Patron of her property during an armed robbery
was sufficiently serious in nature as to constitute a conversion, regardless of whether she got her
purse or its contents back when he was apprehended by the police. Patron’s remedy for conversion
will be either damages for the fair market value of the chattel or replevin of the property.
Defenses
Burglar has no defenses to any of the intentional torts discussed above.
PATRON V. CINEMA—NEGLIGENCE
Duty of Care
Under the rules stated above, Patron was a foreseeable plaintiff because she was in Cinema’s
parking lot, and therefore in the zone of danger from any condition of or activity on Cinema’s
property.
Breach of Duty
A breach occurs when the defendant falls below the applicable level of care. Here, Cinema had
been aware of several previous attacks on its customers in the parking lot at night during the past
several years, but provided no lighting or security guard. Given that Cinema apparently took no
action to protect Patron from dangers on its property of which it was aware, Cinema will be found
to have breached its duty to Patron.
Actual Cause
Applying the “but for” rule of actual cause stated above, Cinema’s breach of duty will likely be
deemed an actual cause of Patron’s injury. But for Cinema’s failure to provide security guards and
proper lighting, it is likely that Patron would not have been attacked in the parking lot.
Proximate Cause
As discussed above, in an indirect cause case, the defendant is liable for the harm caused by an
intervening force if the defendant’s negligence created a foreseeable risk that the intervening force
would harm the plaintiff. Here, Cinema’s negligent failure to improve security in its parking lot
created a foreseeable risk that Patron would be attacked there. Hence, Burglar’s criminal act was a
foreseeable intervening force that does not cut off Cinema’s liability for its negligence.
Damages
As stated above, Patron’s concussion from fainting constitutes recoverable damages and completes
the prima facie negligence case against Cinema.
Defenses
For the reasons stated above, it is not likely that Patron will be found to have been contributorily
negligent or to have assumed the risk of injury.
QUESTION 1
PATRON V. HOMEOWNER
Issue: Whether Patron may establish Homeowner’s liability under a theory of negligence
1
Rule: To prevail in a negligence action, Patron must show that (i) Homeowner owed her a duty
of care, (ii) Homeowner breached that duty, (iii) the breach of duty was the actual cause and the
proximate cause of the harm, and (iv) Patron suffered damages (listing all of the enumerated elements
is worth two points; listing only three of the enumerated elements is worth one point) 2
DUTY OF CARE
Rules: If the defendant’s conduct creates an unreasonable risk of injury to persons in the position of
the plaintiff, the general duty of care extends from the defendant to the plaintiff 1
(i) Alternatively, a specific duty imposed by a statute providing for a criminal penalty may replace the
general common law duty of care. For the statutory standard to apply, the plaintiff must show that (ii)
she is in the class intended to be protected by the statute, and (iii) the statute was intended to prevent
the type of harm that the plaintiff suffered. (one point for each enumerated statement) 3
Analysis: Under the facts given, Homeowner owed a duty of care to anyone who might be at risk of
injury from the gun because it was not secured, and leaving the gun unsecured created a foreseeable
risk of injury to any victims of the thief 1
The statute required that all firearms were to be stored in a secure container that is fully enclosed and
locked 1
(i) Homeowner would argue that the class of persons intended to be protected by the statute may be
limited to persons residing in or visiting Homeowner’s home, and (ii) the statute was intended to
protect those persons from accidentally harming someone (one point for each enumerated statement) 2
(i) Patron would argue that the statute was intended to protect anyone against whom the gun was used
without permission of the owner, and (ii) the harm intended to be prevented was also from normal
reactions to being threatened by the gun, such as fainting (one point for each enumerated statement) 2
Conclusion: It is a close question whether Homeowner will be deemed to owe a duty to Patron. (An
examinee may receive credit for either conclusion) 1
BREACH OF DUTY
Rule: The violation of a statute that establishes a statutory duty of care gives rise to “negligence per
se,” i.e., a conclusive presumption of duty and breach of duty 1
Analysis and Conclusion: (i) A reasonably prudent handgun owner would store his gun in a safe
place so that no one other than the owner would have access to it; (ii) thus, there is a good argument
for breach of either a statutory or common law duty of care (one point for each enumerated statement) 2
CAUSATION
Rules: (i) The general rule of proximate cause is that the defendant is liable for all harmful results that
are the normal incidents of, and within the increased risk caused by, his conduct. (ii) If the defendant’s
negligence created a foreseeable risk that a third person would commit a crime or intentional tort, the
defendant’s liability will not be cut off by the crime or tort. (one point for each enumerated statement) 2
Analysis: But for Homeowner’s failure to store the gun in a secure locked container, Burglar
would not have stolen the gun and used it against Patron, establishing actual cause; furthermore,
Homeowner’s conduct was a substantial factor in bringing about Patron’s injury 1
Rule: A plaintiff is entitled to be compensated from the tortfeasor for all her damages, even if the
extent or severity of the harm is unforeseeable 1
Analysis and Conclusion: Here, Patron suffered a concussion after fainting from the shock of being
threatened with a gun; this constitutes recoverable damages 1
DEFENSES
Rule: (i) While under the traditional rules of contributory negligence and assumption of the risk a
plaintiff’s conduct could result in her being barred from recovery, (ii) most jurisdictions now follow
the modern rule of comparative negligence, whereby the plaintiff’s recovery is merely reduced
according to the percentage of her fault (one point for each enumerated statement) 2
Analysis and Conclusion: (i) Arguably, Patron was contributorily negligent by walking to her car late
at night, and she may have assumed the risk of injury by refusing to hand over her purse to Burglar
when confronted by him. (ii) However, there was no security guard to escort her to her car and
nothing suggests that she was aware of the previous attacks on Cinema customers. (iii) It is not likely
that she will be deemed to have voluntarily assumed the risk of being threatened with a gun. (one
point for each enumerated statement) 3
Overall Conclusion: If Homeowner is deemed to owe a duty to Patron, Patron is likely to prevail in
her negligence action against Homeowner 1
PATRON V. BURGLARP
Issue: Whether Patron can hold Burglar liable under any tort theory
1
ASSAULT
Rule: To establish a defendant’s liability for assault, the plaintiff must show (i) an act by the
defendant creating a reasonable apprehension in the plaintiff of immediate harmful or offensive
contact to the plaintiff’s person, (ii) intent by the defendant to bring about such apprehension, and (iii)
causation (listing all of the elements is worth two points; listing only two of the elements is worth one
point) 2
Analysis: (i) Burglar drew a handgun, pointed it at Patron, and told her that he was going to shoot her.
(ii) His act caused Patron a reasonable apprehension of imminent harm, and his act was intentional.
(one point for each enumerated statement) 2
Conclusion: Burglar is liable for assault and Patron may recover damages from the injury she
suffered when she fainted 1
BATTERY
Rule: To establish a defendant’s liability for battery, the plaintiff must show (i) an act by the
defendant that brings about harmful or offensive contact to the plaintiff’s person, (ii) intent by the
defendant to bring about such contact, and (iii) causation (listing all of the elements is worth two
points; listing only two of the elements is worth one point) 2
Analysis: (i) For purposes of battery, anything connected to the plaintiff’s person is viewed as part of
the plaintiff’s person. (ii) Patron may have suffered offensive contact when her purse was taken if it
was still on her person when she fainted. (one point for each enumerated statement) 2
Conclusion: Burglar may be liable for battery
1
FALSE IMPRISONMENT
Rules: For false imprisonment, the plaintiff must show (i) an act or omission by the defendant that
confines or restrains the plaintiff to a bounded area, (ii) intent on the defendant’s part to confine or
restrain the plaintiff, and (iii) causation (listing all of the enumerated elements is worth two points;
listing only two of the enumerated elements is worth one point) 2
False imprisonment may be accomplished by a threat of force against the plaintiff, and it is immaterial
how short the time period of the restraint was 1
Analysis: (i) Patron was restrained by Burglar’s demand that she hand over her purse in conjunction
with his drawing a gun on her. (ii) She was restrained from fleeing because of the threat of force,
and Burglar intended to restrain her until he could acquire her purse. (one point for each enumerated
statement) 2
Conclusion: Burglar is liable for false imprisonment
1
INTENTIONAL INFLICTION OF EMOTIONAL DISTRESS
Rule: The elements of intentional infliction of emotional distress are: (i) an act by the defendant
amounting to extreme and outrageous conduct; (ii) intent by the defendant to cause the plaintiff
to suffer severe emotional distress, or recklessness as to the effect of the defendant’s conduct; (iii)
causation; and (iv) damages—severe emotional distress (listing all of the enumerated elements is
worth two points; listing only three of the enumerated elements is worth one point) 2
Analysis: (i) Burglar’s act of pulling out a gun and telling Patron that he is going to shoot her is
extreme and outrageous conduct, and (ii) it appears that he intended to cause her to suffer severe
distress or at least recklessly disregarded the high likelihood that she would suffer severe distress (one
point for each enumerated statement) 2
Conclusion: Burglar will be liable for intentional infliction of emotional distress
1
CONVERSION
Rule: For conversion, the plaintiff must show (i) an act by the defendant interfering with the
plaintiff’s right of possession in the chattel that is serious enough in nature or consequence to warrant
that the defendant pay the full value of the chattel, (ii) intent to do the act that brings about the
interference with the plaintiff’s right of possession, and (iii) causation (listing all of the enumerated
elements is worth two points; listing only two of the enumerated elements is worth one point) 2
Analysis and Conclusion: Burglar’s conduct in dispossessing Patron of her property during an armed
robbery was sufficiently serious in nature as to constitute a conversion rather than merely trespass to
chattels 1
Patron’s remedy for conversion will be either damages for the fair market value of the chattel or
replevin of the property 1
Burglar has no defenses to any of the intentional torts discussed above
1
Overall Conclusion: Patron can hold Burglar liable under the theories of assault, battery, false
imprisonment, intentional infliction of emotional distress, or conversion 1
PASSING SCALE
Raw Score
0 - 11 Significantly below passing
12 - 17 Below passing
18 - 24 Slightly below passing
25 - 34 Passing
35 - 45 Above passing
46+ Significantly above passing