Registry

Module Specifications

Archived Version 2012 - 2013

Module Title	Law of Torts
Module Code	LG216
School	School of Law & Government
Online Module Resources
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5
Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

Description

The course aims to acquaint students with the role of tort law as either apportioning blame or compensating for loss and injury. The module will cover the most common causes of action litigated in the courts and will consider the underlying rules both of the common law and of statute which govern such suits.

Learning Outcomes

1. Identify the key principles of tort in Ireland
2. Distinguish liability in tort from other areas of the law
3. Apply the rules and principles of tort in Ireland to solve common legal problems which are governed by the law of tort
4. Critique the law of tort as a mechanism for compensating intentional and accidental injuries
5. Identify the individual principles and rules which govern different causes of action in the tort system
6. Locate, classify and summarise relevant legal materials in respect of the law of tort

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full-time hours per semester
Lecture	24	No Description
Independent Study	101	No Description
Total Workload: 125

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Introduction
Nature of the law of tort; tort distinguished from other areas of law; historical developments of the law of tort; role and function of tort in the compensation system.

Negligence
Development of the duty of care; application of the duty of care to negligent misstatements, psychiatric injuries and pure economic losses; the standard of care; liability for omissions; causation; remoteness of damage.

Professional Negligence
The development of the professional standard of care; medicine and the law of tort; negligence actions against solicitors and barristers.

Occupiers' Liability
Occupiers' Liability Act 1995

Liability for Products
Liability for Defective Products Act 1991

Intentional Torts to the Person
Trespass; False Imprisonment; Assault; Battery; The rule in Wilkinson v Downton.

Torts Relating to Land
Trespass; Nuisance; Rylands v Fletcher; Liability for Trees.

Torts Relating to Reputation
Slander; Libel; Defamation Act 1961; Reforming Defamation; Invasions of Privacy.

The Civil Liability System
The Statute of Limitations Act 1957; damages in the Law of Tort; multiple wrong-doers under the Civil Liability Act 1961; actions for fatal injuries; the impact of the Personal Injuries Assessment Board Act 2003.

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment	30%	Examination Weight	70%

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Course Work Breakdown

Reassessment Requirement
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; 1 = A resit is available for all components of the module 2 = No resit is available for 100% continuous assessment module 3 = No resit is available for the continuous assessment component
Unavailable

Indicative Reading List

E Quill: 2009, Torts in Ireland, 3rd edn, Gill and MacMillan, Dublin,
J Helay: 2006, Principles of Irish Torts, 1st edn, Clarus Press,
B McMahon and W Binchy: 2000, Irish Law of Torts, 3rd edn, Tottel, Dublin,
U Connolly and S Quinlivan: 2006, Tort, Cases and Materials, Thomson Round hall,
B McMahon and W Binchy: 2005, Casebook on the Irish Law of Torts, 3rd edn, Tottel,
S Deakin, A Johnston, B Markesini: 2008, Tort Law, 6th edn, Oxford University Press,
W Rogers: 2007, Winfield and Jolowicz on Tort, 17th edn, Sweet and Maxwell, London,

Other Resources

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