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Torts Introduction: Three categories of torts Intentional torts: where the defendant desires to bring about a particular harmful result Negligence: defendant has not intended to bring about a certain result, but has merely behaved carelessly Strict Liability: defendant is held liable even though he did not intend to bring about the undesirable result, and even though he behaved with utmost carefulness Conducting abnormally dangerous activities Selling a defective product that causes personal injury or property damage There is no fault in strict liability, this is the only case where accidentally caused harm is also tortious. The more culpable the tortfeasor, the more far-reaching his liability for unexpected consequences. Culpability is highest in an intentional tort and least in strict liability. The measure of damages is generally broader for the more culpable categories. D is more likely to be required to pay punitive damages when he is an intentional tortfeasor than when he is negligent or strictly liable. Three tort scenarios: Stranger cases = random interaction between two people without a defined relationship Consensual arrangements = where the parties know each other and are in some kind of agreed upon relationship (often basis for contractual relationship) Highway (license) cases = where access is limited but interactions are still between strangers The interests protected by tort law: Physical security and autonomy of person and property Physical harms are ordinarily tortious in the absence of justification Emotional security and other intangible interest such as privacy and reputation Emotional harms may or may not be held tortious. Courts are more reluctant to impose liability. Economic security and opportunity Where there is no physical harm, courts are cautious about imposing liability for purely economic harms. Aims of tort law: Compensation of injured persons Deterrence of undesirable behavior Encouragement of social utility and personal responsi