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Tort Law (GED75051)

Datos generales

Tipo:

 OP

Curso:

 4

Periodo:

 S semestre

Créditos ECTS:

 5 ECTS

Profesorado:

Grupo Profesor Departamento Idioma
Alex Ferreres Comella Derecho ENG

Conocimientos previos

Contract Law

Distribución de la carga de trabajo

Actividades formativas propuestas:
- Presenciales: 40% de los créditos.
- Dirigidas: 30% de los créditos
- Autónomas: 30% de los créditos

Contribución de la asignatura al programa

This course contributes to the internationalization of the GED curriculum because for one hand it is a subject that is taught in a foreign language (English) and for the other hand, because it helps the student to have a less local vision of law. This course focuses on the central issues of tort law from a comparative legal perspective.

Objetivos de aprendizaje de la asignatura

The main aim of the course is to provide students with knowledge on the key issues of Tort Law, which should enable them to be able to identify the main problems involved in claiming or defending a tort law case.

Competencias

5. Capacidad de aprendizaje permanente (lifelong learning ability, aprender a aprender)
15. Construcción de redes sociales

Contenidos

1. Introduction and Scope.

1. Concept and evolution. 2. Objectives of Tort Law. 3. Distinction between contract and tort; criminal wrongdoing and negligence. 4. Negligence and strict liability. 5. Alternative methods of compensation for personal injury.

2. Main European approaches to tort law and the need for harmonisation.

1. The French and Spanish systems. 2. The German system. 3. The Common Law countries. 4. The harmonisation of private law in Europe. 5. The European principles of tort law.

3. Liability based on negligence.

1. Acts and omissions. 2. Defences: self-defence, necessity, voluntary assumption of risk. 3. Negligence: breach of duty of care, standard of care. 4. Burden of proof. 5. Trend towards strict liability. 6. Economic analysis of tort law: the cost of prevention.

4. Causation

1. Causation ¿in fact¿ and the ¿but for¿ test. 2. Legal causation. 3. Foreseeability. 4. Multiple causes. 5. Causal indeterminacy. 6. Intervening events: force majeur, and acts of third parties. 7. Contributory negligence.

5. Damages

1. The principle of full compensation. 2. Pecuniary loss: costs incurred and loss of earnings. Pure economic loss. 3. Non pecuniary loss: pain and suffering, loss of amenities, the injury itself. 4. Lump sum and periodical payments. 5. Remoteness of damage. 6. Collateral benefits. 7. Duty to mitigate.

6. Vicarious liability.

1. Justifications for vicarious liability. 2. Liability for minors or mentally disabled persons. 3. Employer¿s liability: Employee and independent contractor. Course of employment. 4. Liability for harm caused in schools. 5. Right to recover.

7. Claiming damages

1. Procedural issues. 2. Waivers of liability. 3. Limitation periods. 4. Other remedies: injunctions. 4. Insurance.

8. Professional negligence.

1. Professional negligence. 2. Medical liability. 3. Legal profession. 4. Architects and other agents in construction.

9. Public authorities

1. Concept and justification. 2. Defences. 3. Public health service. 4. Judicial error. False imprisonment. 5. Police and other emergency services. 6. Highway authorities.

10. Product liability

1. Concept of defective products. 2. Who can be liable? Who can claim? 3. Negligence or strict liability? 4. Defences. ¿Development risks¿ defence. 5. Recoverable damage and time limits.

11. Road accidents

1. Definitions. 2. Who can be liable? Who can claim? 3. Negligence or strict liability? 4. Tariffication of bodily injuries.

12. Other torts

1. Defamation and privacy. 2. Liability for animals. 3. Damages caused by falling things. 4. Nuissance.

Relación de Actividades con Contenidos

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Written exam                        
Solving hypothetical cases                        
Paper work presentation                        

Metodología

The course will combine lectures with seminars where key issues will be debated.
The student will also be given hypotheticals to be discussed in class.

Evaluación

Actividades de evaluación

Descripción %
Written exam 60
Solving hypothetical cases 20
Paper work presentation 20

Criterios de evaluación

Written exam: The exam will count for 60% of the final grade. Students must pass this exam in order to pass the course.

The other 40% will be obtained with the work done by the student through the course: participation and discussion of cases, paper work presented.
Additionally, students may present a paper on any given Tort Law topic (with a comparative perspective) in order to try to obtain a better grade. This paper could add up to 2 additional points in the final grade.

Any student that does NOT:
1. Pass the EVALUATION (exams/other) first time round due to absenteeism, will not be given a second opportunity to be evaluated and will, therefore, be obliged to repeat the entire course.
2. Meet the required level of competences, can still go ahead to the following year provided they have passed the evaluation but MAY NOT PRESENT the end-of-programme project, until said competences have been acquired and demonstrated.

Bibliografía

Bibliografía básica:
It will be provided at the beginning of the course. See the Moodle page of the course.


Bibliografía o material complementario:
See the Moodle page of the course. Additional material will be suggested at the beginning of the course.


Horarios y secciones

Grupo Profesor Departamento
Alex Ferreres Comella Derecho

Horario

Del 14/9/2015 al 30/11/2015:
Cada lunes de 8:00 a 10:00. (Excepto: 12/10/2015)

Lunes 14/12/2015 de 16:00 a 19:00.

Jueves 30/6/2016 de 10:00 a 13:00.