COMM231 Chapter Notes - Chapter 3: False Imprisonment, Malicious Prosecution, Punitive Damages

• School: University of Waterloo
• Department: Commerce
• Course: COMM231
• Professor: Joseph Radocchia

Document Summary

Tort law: compensate victims for harm caused by the activities of others. Fault: unjustifiable injurious conduct that intentionally or carelessly disregards the interest of others. (defects: accident victims who cannot establish fault go uncompensated. ) Strict liabilities: parties are liable for any resulting damage even if they are blameless. Public policy: considerations or objectives that are considered beneficial to society as a whole (no-fault insurance and worker"s compensation) Vicarious liabilities: even a blameless employer is responsible for employees" tort when they are employed. Assault (threat of violence) and battery (actual physical contact) Nuisance: public nuisance (blocking the road). False imprisonment and malicious prosecution (causing a person to be prosecuted for a crime without an honest belief that the crime was committed) Defamation: libel (written defamation) and slander (oral defamation). Communication of the offending statement to someone other than the person defamed. Absolute privilege : complete immunity from liability for defamation. (parliamentary debate)