Australian Law of Torts (Priestley 11 — Torts)

Study content for Australian Law of Torts (Priestley 11 — Torts): notes, practice MCQs and flashcards across 8 syllabus topics. This is AI-generated draft content — citations have not yet been independently verified.

Syllabus

• NegligenceTopic

  Duty of care — neighbour principle, Caparo three-stage test, novel duty situations · Breach — calculus of negligence (Civil Liability Act s 5B NSW / equivalent statutes), objective standard, Ipp reforms · Causation — but-for test, material contribution, Civil Liability Act s 5D NSW, novus actus

• Statutory Modifications — Civil Liability Acts (Ipp Reforms)Topic

  Obvious risk, dangerous recreational activities, assumption of risk under statute · Mental harm provisions — recognised psychiatric illness, sudden shock · Damages caps and thresholds — non-economic loss, structured awards

• Intentional TortsTopic

  Trespass to the person — assault, battery, false imprisonment; directness requirement · Trespass to land; trespass to goods and conversion · Defamation — publication, defamatory meaning, defences (justification, fair comment, privilege)

• DefencesTopic

  Contributory negligence — apportionment (Law Reform Act equivalents), 100% reduction possibility under CLA · Volenti non fit injuria / assumption of risk · Ex turpi causa — illegality defence

• Pure Economic Loss and Negligent MisstatementTopic

  Hedley Byrne special relationship; Perre v Apand; Woolcock Street; indeterminate liability concern · Relational economic loss; transferred loss

• Professional NegligenceTopic

  Rogers v Whitaker duty (medical); peer-professional opinion defence (CLA s 5O NSW) · Legal professional negligence; standard of care for professionals

• Nuisance and Strict LiabilityTopic

  Private nuisance — unreasonable interference, sensitivity, remedies · Public nuisance · Rylands v Fletcher — non-natural use, escape, Australian modifications (Cambridge Water)

• Vicarious Liability and Non-Delegable DutiesTopic

  Employment vs independent contractor distinction; course of employment; intentional wrongdoing (Lister approach in Australia) · Non-delegable duties — Leichhardt MC v Montgomery

• Donoghue v Stevenson

  What is the 'neighbour principle' in negligence and why is it significant?

  [1932] AC 562
• Shire of Sutherland v Heyman

  What is the key difference between the Australian duty-of-care approach and the English Caparo three-stage test?

  [1985] HCA 41; (1985) 157 CLR 424
• Sullivan v Moody

  How did Sullivan v Moody establish the 'coherence' principle in duty-of-care analysis?

  [2001] HCA 59