MASSACHUSETTSSCHOOL OF LAW at ANDOVER
SYLLABUS for Torts – Spring 2015
Professor Martin
Instructor:Professor Thomas H. Martin
Phone: 978.681.0800 ext 124
Course
Materials:Casebook:Prosser, Wade & Schwartz, Cases and Materials on Torts
(Foundation Press, 12th edition 2010)
Hornbook: Dobbs, The Law of Torts
(West Publishing Company, 2000) (Try before you buy.)
Study Aid:Glannon, The Law of Torts: Examples and Explanations
(Aspen, 3d ed. 2005) (paper)
Course Description
& Grading
Criteria:There will be ten in-class quizzes. For grading purposes, the student’s best five quiz scores will be averaged (the remaining quiz scores being disregarded) and the quiz average will count as five per cent of the student’s grade. At the end of the semester the student will participate in an oral presentation integrating the Torts and Contracts courses. This interdisciplinary oral presentation counts as five percent of the student’s grade. The midterm examination counts as twenty per cent of the student’s grade. The final examination counts as seventy per cent of the student’s grade. In accordance with school policy, a student’s grade may be reduced for failure to prepare for class or failure to participate in class.
WeekTopics Casebook Pages
1.Class 1 Foundations of tort liability 1-16
Class 2 Liability based upon intent 17-30
2.Class 3Assault and battery; false imprisonment30-51
Class 4 Infliction of emotional distress 51-68
Class 5Trespass to land 68-74
3.Class 6 Injury to property; conversion74-91
Class 7 Consent; self-defense; defense of others92-120
Class 8Privileges; necessity120-132
4.Class 9 Negligence 133-150
Class 10 Standard of care150-174
Class 11 Standard of care; professional liability174-208
5.Class 12Violation of statute208-238
Class 13Proof of negligence238-245
Class 14 Res ipsa loquitur245-263
6.Class 15Causation in fact268-279,
291-302
Class 16 Proximate cause303-330
Class 17 Intervening causes336-362
7.Class 18Joint tortfeasers 374-384,
401-411
Class 19Limited duty 417-433,
447-452
Class 20Defenses to negligence I
Contributory negligence609-632
Comparative negligence
Assumption of risk
8.Class 21Defenses to negligence II
Statutes of limitation 639-646,
Charitable immunity*
Governmental immunity662-675
Class 22Owners and occupiers of premises500-521
Class 23MID TERM EXAMINATION
* SPRING BREAK – March 16, 2015 – March 21, 2015 *
9.Class 24Respondeat superior688-701
Class 25Abnormally dangerous activities719-744
Class 26Tort Reform *
10.Class 27Product liability I745-766
Class 28Product liability II766-794
Class 29Product liability III795-817
11.Class 30Defamation (common law)864-907
Class 31Defamation (constitutional) (I)907-929
Class 32Defamation (constitutional) (II)929-951
12.Class 33Abuse of legal procedure1041-1059
Class 34Nuisance833-863
* NO CLASS MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2015--PATRIOTS DAY *
Class 35Misrepresentation I1060-1092
13.Class 36Misrepresentation II1037-1112
Class 37Business torts1117-1155
14.Class 38Civil rights1020-1040,
1196-1202
Class 39Invasion of privacy976-1008,
1014-1019
15.Class 40Damages534-570
Class 41Review or make-up day
*Reading materials will be distributed.
TORTSsyllabusSPRING2015martin/martin
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