SRJC Course Outlines

12/7/2024 5:09:33 PMPLS 62 Course Outline as of Fall 2010

New Course (First Version)
CATALOG INFORMATION

Discipline and Nbr:  PLS 62Title:  TORTS  
Full Title:  Torts
Last Reviewed:9/14/2020

UnitsCourse Hours per Week Nbr of WeeksCourse Hours Total
Maximum3.00Lecture Scheduled3.0017.5 max.Lecture Scheduled52.50
Minimum3.00Lab Scheduled05 min.Lab Scheduled0
 Contact DHR0 Contact DHR0
 Contact Total3.00 Contact Total52.50
 
 Non-contact DHR0 Non-contact DHR Total0

 Total Out of Class Hours:  105.00Total Student Learning Hours: 157.50 

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade Only
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly: 

Catalog Description:
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An in-depth examination of all phases of tort litigation from the initial stages of planning and preparing the civil lawsuit to trial.  Elements of tort causes of action are discussed in depth.  Negligence, a common element, is explained and applied to case fact patterns.  Common torts such as products liability, wrongful death, invasion of privacy and defenses to torts are presented for analysis.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:
Course Completion of PLS 51


Recommended Preparation:

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description: Untitled document
An in-depth examination of all phases of tort litigation from the initial stages of planning and preparing the civil lawsuit to trial.  Elements of tort causes of action are discussed in depth.  Negligence, a common element, is explained and applied to case fact patterns.  Common torts such as products liability, wrongful death, invasion of privacy and defenses to torts are presented for analysis.
(Grade Only)

Prerequisites:Course Completion of PLS 51
Recommended:
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:CSU;
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:Effective:Inactive:
 Area:
 
CSU GE:Transfer Area Effective:Inactive:
 
IGETC:Transfer Area Effective:Inactive:
 
CSU Transfer:TransferableEffective:Fall 2010Inactive:
 
UC Transfer:Effective:Inactive:
 
C-ID:

Certificate/Major Applicable: Major Applicable Course



COURSE CONTENT

Outcomes and Objectives:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:
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Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
1.  Draft and respond to pleadings in tort.
2.  Perform pre-trial evaluation of potential tort cases.
3.  Apply appropriate standards of reasonableness, causation, and forseeability in tort actions.
4.  Assess claims for potential damages.

Topics and Scope
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1.    Introduction to Tort Law
      a.  Categories of torts
      b.  Elements of torts
      c.  Tort terminology
2.    Negligence: Summary
      a.  Duty
      b.  Breach
      c.  Causation
      d.  Damages
3.    Negligence: Foreseeability
      a.  Objective standard
      b.  Determination "formula"
      c.  Area analysis
      d.  Activity analysis
      e.  People analysis
      f.   Preparation analysis
      g.  Historical data
      h.  Common Sense
4.    Negligence: Duty
      a.  General rule
      b.  Unforeseeable plaintiff
      c.  Nonfeasance and special relationships
      d.  Gratuitous undertaking
5.    Negligence: Breach of Duty
      a.  Standard of care:  reasonableness
      b.  Breach of duty equation
      c.  Objective or subjective standard
      d.  Res ipsa loquitur
      e.  Violation of statute, ordinance, or regulation
      f.   Gross negligence and willful, wanton, reckless conduct
      g.  Vicarious liability
      h.  Medical malpractice
      i.   Legal malpractice
6.    Negligence: Proximate Cause
      a.  Evidence of causation
      b.  Cut-off test of proximate cause
      c.  Intervening causes
      d.  Unforeseeable plaintiff
      e.  Analysis of proximate cause
7.    Negligence: Damages
      a.  Types of damages
      b.  Pain and suffering
      c.  Property damage
      d.  Doctrine of avoidable consequences
      e.  Joint tortfeasors
      f.   Indemnity
8.    Negligence: Defenses
      a.  Contributory negligence
      b.  "Last clear chance"
      c.  Comparative negligence
      d.  Assumption of the risk
9.    Survival and Wrongful Death
      a.  Torts that survive
      b.  Common law and statutory law
      c.  Characteristics of actions that survive
      d.  Wrongful death
      e.  Avoiding double recovery
10.  Products Liability
      a.  Negligence
      b.  Manufacturer and non-manufacturer
      c.  Defenses
      d.  Misrepresentation
      e.  Warranty and strict liability
      f.   Express and implied warranties
      g.  Strict liability in tort
      h.  Defective products that are unreasonably dangerous
11.  Infliction of Emotional Distress
      a.  Intentional infliction of emotional distress
      b.  Extreme or outrageous conduct
      c.  Intent
      d.  Causation
      e.  Severe emotional distress
      f.   Negligent infliction of emotional distress
      g.  Physical harm and injury
      h.  Later physical harm or injury
      i.   Witnessing someone else's injury
12.  False Imprisonment and False Arrest
      a.  Confinement
      b.  Intent
      c.  Causation
      d.  Consciousness of harm
      e.  Peace officer's privilege of arrest
      f.   Private citizen's privilege of arrest
13.  Defamation
      a.  Libel
      b.  Slander
      c.  Absolute privilege
      d.  Publication
      e.  Damages
14.  Assault and Battery
      a.  Intent and motive
      b.  Harmful or offensive
      c.  Transferred intent
15.  Torts Against the Family
      a.  Loss of consortium
      b.  Loss of services
      c.  Abduction or enticement of a child
      d.  Criminal conversations
16.  Torts Connected with Land
      a.  Trespass
      b.  Strict liability for abnormally dangerous conditions or activities
      c.  Nuisance
      d.  Special problems of buyers and sellers
      e.  Landlord and tenant
17.  Business Torts
      a.  Disparagement
      b.  Interference with contract relations
      c.  Injurious falsehood
      d.  Interference with prospective advantage
18.  Privileges and Immunities
      a.  Consent in tort law
      b.  Self-help privileges
      c.  Sovereign immunity
      d.  Official immunity-liability of government
      e.  Employees

Assignments:
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1.  Read textbook and outside sources of approximately 40 pages per week.
2.  Weekly homework assignments based on lecture and readings.
3.  Analysis of tort fact patterns.
4.  Participation in weekly discussions.
5.  Group work and group presentations.
6.  Memorization of terminology.
7.  Two to five quizzes.

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.
Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.Writing
20 - 25%
Analysis of problems as written assignments.
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.Problem Solving
20 - 25%
Homework assignments, group work
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.Skill Demonstrations
0 - 0%
None
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.Exams
40 - 45%
Quizzes of multiple choice, true/false, matching items, terminology, short answers and final exam
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.Other Category
10 - 20%
Attendance and participation; group presentation


Representative Textbooks and Materials:
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Essentials of Torts, by William Statsky, Delmar Cengage Learning, 2nd edition, 2000 (classic in the field).

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