Beatriz Victoria Madeleine Peeters
IE University
Segovia Campus L.L.B. & B.I.R. Second Year
Course: Torts
Academic Year 23/24
IE University. Torts.
Maria Guadalupe Martinez Alles
TORTS
Final Notes.
,INTRODUCTION TO TORT LAW.....................................................................................................5
I. WHAT IS THE LAW OF TORTS..................................................................................................5
GLOBAL TENDENCIES ON TORTS — TRANSFORMATIVE FACTORS.......................... 5
II. MAIN PRINCIPLES OF LIABILITY..........................................................................................5
COMPENSATION — CORRECTIVE JUSTICE...................................................................... 6
DETERRENCE...........................................................................................................................6
PUNISHMENT — RETRIBUTIVE JUSTICE.......................................................................... 6
FAIRNESS — DISTRIBUTIVE JUSTICE................................................................................ 8
III. SOURCES OF TORT LAW........................................................................................................ 8
MOVING TOWARDS HARMONISATION..............................................................................9
Systems of Liability.............................................................................................................................. 10
Three National Systems — French, English and German...............................................................10
Why Studying Three National Tort Systems?...........................................................................10
French System................................................................................................................................. 10
Code Civil 1804 / Reform Project 2016....................................................................................10
English System................................................................................................................................ 11
Precedent / Statutory Rules....................................................................................................... 11
German System................................................................................................................................12
Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch (BGB) 1900......................................................................................12
Requirements of Liability — Protected Rights and Interests.......................................................... 13
Requirements of Liability................................................................................................................13
Protected Rights and Interests in the Legal Systems.......................................................................13
Which Rights / Interests Tort Law Protects ?........................................................................... 14
How to Balance Freedom and Protection?................................................................................14
Protection of the Person...................................................................................................................14
Right to Life.............................................................................................................................. 14
Right to Physical Integrity........................................................................................................ 14
Right to Physical Health [ McDonald’s Case ]......................................................................... 14
Right to Mental Health / Well-Being........................................................................................ 15
Personality Rights..................................................................................................................... 15
A. Right to Privacy............................................................................................................. 15
B. Defamation (an example)...............................................................................................15
C. Right to Self-Determination (Autonomy)......................................................................15
Recoverable Damages...............................................................................................................16
Cost of Maintaining the Healthy Child.............................................................................. 16
Loss of Income for the Mother...........................................................................................16
Non-Pecuniary Loss........................................................................................................... 16
Protection of the Right to Property..................................................................................................16
Protection of Economic Interests.....................................................................................................17
Case of the Harmful Effects of Social Platforms and Gender Stereotypes in Advertising............. 17
Fault and Strict Liability..................................................................................................................... 18
Requirements of Liability................................................................................................................18
Fault Liability.................................................................................................................................. 18
1
, Intention.................................................................................................................................... 18
Negligence................................................................................................................................ 18
Negligence Test.................................................................................................................. 18
Three Questions to be Answered to Assess Negligence........................................................... 19
( a ) Whether the defendant behaved as a reasonable person would hace done in the same
circumstances..................................................................................................................... 19
Defences (ENG) and Grounds of Justification (FRA and GER)................................. 20
( b ) What knowledge and skills the reasonable person is supposed to possess.................20
Reasons to Prefer an Obective Test over a Subjective Test......................................... 20
( c ) Whether the defendant’s physical or mental shortcomings could serve as a defence
against liability....................................................................................................................21
Children........................................................................................................................21
Mental Condition......................................................................................................... 21
Fault Liability.................................................................................................................................. 21
Negligence in the Legal Systems.............................................................................................. 21
France................................................................................................................................. 21
Germany............................................................................................................................. 21
England...............................................................................................................................22
Strict Liability..................................................................................................................................22
Liability without Fault.............................................................................................................. 22
Liability is Established Independently of Whetherr the Defendant took Sufficient
Precautionary Measures or Not.................................................................................................22
Reasons for Imposing Rules of Strict Liability.........................................................................22
The Costs of Socially Valuable but Dangerous Activities Should be Borne by Society or
by the Specific Group Involved in the Activity..................................................................22
Claimants can more Easily Prove their Claim and Obtain Compensation.........................23
It may Lead to More Efficiency in the Settlement of Claims.............................................23
Reasons for Imposing Rules of Strict Liability.........................................................................23
Loss spreading within a certain group — Insurance.......................................................... 23
Employer’s Liability for Damage Caused by their Employee — Vicarious Liability....... 23
European Directive on Products Liability 1985........................................................................23
Manufacturer’s Liability for a Defective Product.............................................................. 23
Revised Product Liability Directive (September 2022)............................................................23
Defenses to Strict Liability....................................................................................................... 24
[ 1 ] Natural Events.............................................................................................................24
[ 2 ] External Cause............................................................................................................ 24
The Blurred Border Between Strict and Fault Liability.................................................................. 24
Causation.............................................................................................................................................. 25
Requirements of Liability................................................................................................................25
Introduction..................................................................................................................................... 25
An Important Reason for the Difficulties in having a “General Concept of Causation” is that
Causation is Influenced by the Other Requirements for Liability............................................ 25
Factual (Establishing) and Legal (Limiting) Causation.................................................................. 25
“Condition Sine Qua Non” Test or “But For” Test (USA)....................................................... 25
Problems with the “condition sine qua non” test — “factual causation”........................... 26
2
, Ryan v New York Cent. R.R., 35 N.Y. 210 (1866)...................................................... 26
Since Damages Always have More than One Factual Cause, What is the Relevant Legal
Cause?....................................................................................................................................... 26
Limiting Causation — Legal Causation............................................................................. 26
Causation in the Legal Systems.......................................................................................................27
Germany....................................................................................................................................27
England..................................................................................................................................... 27
France........................................................................................................................................27
Tabacco Litigation.............................................................................................................. 28
Establishing Causation.................................................................................................................... 28
[ 1 ] Shifting the Burden of Proof............................................................................................ 28
Germany............................................................................................................................. 28
Assumptions of Causation..................................................................................................28
France................................................................................................................................. 28
England...............................................................................................................................28
I.e. Asbestos Litigation Fairchild Case........................................................................ 29
[ 2 ] More Than One Possible Cause........................................................................................ 29
Germany............................................................................................................................. 29
France................................................................................................................................. 29
England...............................................................................................................................29
How Courts Balance the Interests of the Claimant and Defendants and Made Policy
Choices............................................................................................................................... 30
I.e. Dutch DES Litigation / England Fairchild Case....................................................30
Which Options Courts Resort To....................................................................................... 30
[ 3 ] Tortfeasorr Takes Victim as She Finds Her.......................................................................30
European Rules ( Vague )................................................................................................................ 31
Art. 3:201 PETL........................................................................................................................31
Damages................................................................................................................................................ 32
Requirements of Liability................................................................................................................32
Introduction..................................................................................................................................... 32
Purposes of Awarding Damages......................................................................................................32
[ A ] Reparation — Two Types................................................................................................. 32
Reparation in Money Awards............................................................................................. 32
Reparation in Kind............................................................................................................. 32
Are there Other Sources for Obtaining Reparation?.......................................................... 33
[ B ] Recognition, Vindication and Satisfaction....................................................................... 33
[ C ] Punishment and Deterrence.............................................................................................. 33
Damages in Legal Systems..............................................................................................................33
France........................................................................................................................................33
Main Distinction.................................................................................................................34
Germany....................................................................................................................................34
Important Changes (2002)..................................................................................................34
England..................................................................................................................................... 34
Personal Injury.................................................................................................................................34
3
IE University
Segovia Campus L.L.B. & B.I.R. Second Year
Course: Torts
Academic Year 23/24
IE University. Torts.
Maria Guadalupe Martinez Alles
TORTS
Final Notes.
,INTRODUCTION TO TORT LAW.....................................................................................................5
I. WHAT IS THE LAW OF TORTS..................................................................................................5
GLOBAL TENDENCIES ON TORTS — TRANSFORMATIVE FACTORS.......................... 5
II. MAIN PRINCIPLES OF LIABILITY..........................................................................................5
COMPENSATION — CORRECTIVE JUSTICE...................................................................... 6
DETERRENCE...........................................................................................................................6
PUNISHMENT — RETRIBUTIVE JUSTICE.......................................................................... 6
FAIRNESS — DISTRIBUTIVE JUSTICE................................................................................ 8
III. SOURCES OF TORT LAW........................................................................................................ 8
MOVING TOWARDS HARMONISATION..............................................................................9
Systems of Liability.............................................................................................................................. 10
Three National Systems — French, English and German...............................................................10
Why Studying Three National Tort Systems?...........................................................................10
French System................................................................................................................................. 10
Code Civil 1804 / Reform Project 2016....................................................................................10
English System................................................................................................................................ 11
Precedent / Statutory Rules....................................................................................................... 11
German System................................................................................................................................12
Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch (BGB) 1900......................................................................................12
Requirements of Liability — Protected Rights and Interests.......................................................... 13
Requirements of Liability................................................................................................................13
Protected Rights and Interests in the Legal Systems.......................................................................13
Which Rights / Interests Tort Law Protects ?........................................................................... 14
How to Balance Freedom and Protection?................................................................................14
Protection of the Person...................................................................................................................14
Right to Life.............................................................................................................................. 14
Right to Physical Integrity........................................................................................................ 14
Right to Physical Health [ McDonald’s Case ]......................................................................... 14
Right to Mental Health / Well-Being........................................................................................ 15
Personality Rights..................................................................................................................... 15
A. Right to Privacy............................................................................................................. 15
B. Defamation (an example)...............................................................................................15
C. Right to Self-Determination (Autonomy)......................................................................15
Recoverable Damages...............................................................................................................16
Cost of Maintaining the Healthy Child.............................................................................. 16
Loss of Income for the Mother...........................................................................................16
Non-Pecuniary Loss........................................................................................................... 16
Protection of the Right to Property..................................................................................................16
Protection of Economic Interests.....................................................................................................17
Case of the Harmful Effects of Social Platforms and Gender Stereotypes in Advertising............. 17
Fault and Strict Liability..................................................................................................................... 18
Requirements of Liability................................................................................................................18
Fault Liability.................................................................................................................................. 18
1
, Intention.................................................................................................................................... 18
Negligence................................................................................................................................ 18
Negligence Test.................................................................................................................. 18
Three Questions to be Answered to Assess Negligence........................................................... 19
( a ) Whether the defendant behaved as a reasonable person would hace done in the same
circumstances..................................................................................................................... 19
Defences (ENG) and Grounds of Justification (FRA and GER)................................. 20
( b ) What knowledge and skills the reasonable person is supposed to possess.................20
Reasons to Prefer an Obective Test over a Subjective Test......................................... 20
( c ) Whether the defendant’s physical or mental shortcomings could serve as a defence
against liability....................................................................................................................21
Children........................................................................................................................21
Mental Condition......................................................................................................... 21
Fault Liability.................................................................................................................................. 21
Negligence in the Legal Systems.............................................................................................. 21
France................................................................................................................................. 21
Germany............................................................................................................................. 21
England...............................................................................................................................22
Strict Liability..................................................................................................................................22
Liability without Fault.............................................................................................................. 22
Liability is Established Independently of Whetherr the Defendant took Sufficient
Precautionary Measures or Not.................................................................................................22
Reasons for Imposing Rules of Strict Liability.........................................................................22
The Costs of Socially Valuable but Dangerous Activities Should be Borne by Society or
by the Specific Group Involved in the Activity..................................................................22
Claimants can more Easily Prove their Claim and Obtain Compensation.........................23
It may Lead to More Efficiency in the Settlement of Claims.............................................23
Reasons for Imposing Rules of Strict Liability.........................................................................23
Loss spreading within a certain group — Insurance.......................................................... 23
Employer’s Liability for Damage Caused by their Employee — Vicarious Liability....... 23
European Directive on Products Liability 1985........................................................................23
Manufacturer’s Liability for a Defective Product.............................................................. 23
Revised Product Liability Directive (September 2022)............................................................23
Defenses to Strict Liability....................................................................................................... 24
[ 1 ] Natural Events.............................................................................................................24
[ 2 ] External Cause............................................................................................................ 24
The Blurred Border Between Strict and Fault Liability.................................................................. 24
Causation.............................................................................................................................................. 25
Requirements of Liability................................................................................................................25
Introduction..................................................................................................................................... 25
An Important Reason for the Difficulties in having a “General Concept of Causation” is that
Causation is Influenced by the Other Requirements for Liability............................................ 25
Factual (Establishing) and Legal (Limiting) Causation.................................................................. 25
“Condition Sine Qua Non” Test or “But For” Test (USA)....................................................... 25
Problems with the “condition sine qua non” test — “factual causation”........................... 26
2
, Ryan v New York Cent. R.R., 35 N.Y. 210 (1866)...................................................... 26
Since Damages Always have More than One Factual Cause, What is the Relevant Legal
Cause?....................................................................................................................................... 26
Limiting Causation — Legal Causation............................................................................. 26
Causation in the Legal Systems.......................................................................................................27
Germany....................................................................................................................................27
England..................................................................................................................................... 27
France........................................................................................................................................27
Tabacco Litigation.............................................................................................................. 28
Establishing Causation.................................................................................................................... 28
[ 1 ] Shifting the Burden of Proof............................................................................................ 28
Germany............................................................................................................................. 28
Assumptions of Causation..................................................................................................28
France................................................................................................................................. 28
England...............................................................................................................................28
I.e. Asbestos Litigation Fairchild Case........................................................................ 29
[ 2 ] More Than One Possible Cause........................................................................................ 29
Germany............................................................................................................................. 29
France................................................................................................................................. 29
England...............................................................................................................................29
How Courts Balance the Interests of the Claimant and Defendants and Made Policy
Choices............................................................................................................................... 30
I.e. Dutch DES Litigation / England Fairchild Case....................................................30
Which Options Courts Resort To....................................................................................... 30
[ 3 ] Tortfeasorr Takes Victim as She Finds Her.......................................................................30
European Rules ( Vague )................................................................................................................ 31
Art. 3:201 PETL........................................................................................................................31
Damages................................................................................................................................................ 32
Requirements of Liability................................................................................................................32
Introduction..................................................................................................................................... 32
Purposes of Awarding Damages......................................................................................................32
[ A ] Reparation — Two Types................................................................................................. 32
Reparation in Money Awards............................................................................................. 32
Reparation in Kind............................................................................................................. 32
Are there Other Sources for Obtaining Reparation?.......................................................... 33
[ B ] Recognition, Vindication and Satisfaction....................................................................... 33
[ C ] Punishment and Deterrence.............................................................................................. 33
Damages in Legal Systems..............................................................................................................33
France........................................................................................................................................33
Main Distinction.................................................................................................................34
Germany....................................................................................................................................34
Important Changes (2002)..................................................................................................34
England..................................................................................................................................... 34
Personal Injury.................................................................................................................................34
3
