LW201-6-AU-CO:
Tort Law

The details
2019/20
Essex Law School
Colchester Campus
Autumn
Undergraduate: Level 6
Current
Thursday 03 October 2019
Saturday 14 December 2019
15
02 August 2019

 

Requisites for this module
LW101 or LW108
(none)
(none)
(none)

 

(none)

Key module for

LLB M100MS Law,
LLB M120 Law (Including Year Abroad),
MLAWMA99 Law (Including Year Abroad),
LLB M103 Law (Senior Status),
LLB MM20 Law with Human Rights,
LLB MM21 Law with Human Rights (Including Year Abroad),
LLB MM22 Law with Human Rights (Including Placement Year),
LLB MV16 Law with Philosophy,
LLB MV18 Law with Philosophy (Including Year Abroad),
LLB MV19 Law with Philosophy (Including Placement Year),
LLB ML14 Law with Politics (Including Year Abroad),
LLB ML15 Law with Politics (Including Placement Year),
LLB ML16 Law with Politics,
LLB MN00 Law with Business,
LLB MN01 Law with Business (Including Year Abroad),
LLB MN02 Law with Business (Including Placement Year),
LLB MM00 Law with Criminology,
LLB MM01 Law with Criminology (Including Year Abroad),
LLB MM02 Law with Criminology (Including Placement Year)

Module description

This 15 credit module will build upon the foundations of negligence liability, as taught in LW108 (Foundations of the Law of Obligations) in Year One, and also introduce students to the other, equally important, aspects of Tort Law.

Module aims

The module will commence by applying the principles of the duty of care to certain specific situations, such as liability for causing psychiatric harm, liability for causing economic loss, liability imposed in cases of omissions and against public bodies.

The module also considers the principles of vicarious liability.

The second part of the module will focus on the so-called 'Land Torts' and consider the relevant principles of the occupiers' liability regimes and how these augment the additional controls of the use of land, found in the principles of nuisance and the rule in Rylands v Fletcher.

Module learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of the module students will be able to

- Apply the principles of negligence liability in specific duty-based scenarios

- Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the policy issues that underpin the imposition of liability

- Show a clear understand of the divisions and borders between the various liability regimes governing the use of land

- Read , understand and critically analyse judicial decisions

- Apply the relevant case-law and principles to appropriate problem scenarios

Module information

SYLLABUS


1. Negligence Liability for Psychiatric Harm

2. Negligence Liability fro Economic Loss

3. Vicarious Liability

4. Occupiers' Liability

5. Nuisance

6. Rule in Rylands v. Fletcher

Learning and teaching methods

One two hour lecture per week
Four fortnightly seminars

Bibliography

  • John Cooke. (2019) Law of Tort, Harlow: Pearson Education Limited.

The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course. The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students. Further reading can be obtained from this module's reading list.

Assessment items, weightings and deadlines

Coursework / exam Description Deadline Coursework weighting
Coursework   Preparation    5% 
Coursework   Participation    5% 
Written Exam  Take Home Exam    90% 

Exam format definitions

  • Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
  • In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary, for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.

Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.

Overall assessment

Coursework Exam
100% 0%

Reassessment

Coursework Exam
100% 0%
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Emily Jones, email: e.jones@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Emily Jones, Dr Ugochi Amajuoyi, Dr Meagan Wong
Law General Office, 01206 872529 -lawugadmin@essex.ac.uk

 

Availability
Yes
Yes
No

External examiner

Ms Annette Marie Morris
Cardiff University
Reader in Law
Resources
Available via Moodle
Of 62 hours, 42 (67.7%) hours available to students:
20 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s).

 

Further information
Essex Law School

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