| Truth and Privilege Defenses to Defamation |
| Defamation lawsuits are not easy to win because the plaintiff must both prove the difficult elements of his or her case and avoid the many defenses to defamation. This article discusses some of the standard defenses to defamation, including truth and privilege.More... |
| Fraud and Deceit |
| In the business world, making fraudulent or deceitful representations to others may give rise to liability. A "representation" may consist of words or conduct.More... |
| Tort Law -- Compensation for Damages |
| Apart from legislation granting a right to sue for a specific harm, personal injury law generally consists of tort law and the civil procedure for enforcing it. Most scholars agree that tort law has four purposes: (1) compensation for damages; (2) financial responsibility; (3) deterrence; and (4) avoiding self-help. This article discusses the purpose of compensation.More... |
| Common Law Tort Action Against Person Having Sexual Relations with Female Child |
| Under the common law, a person who has sexual relations with a female child is liable to the child's parent for damages. The tort action is based on the parent's lack of consent. Damages are based on the parent's loss of services or the medical expenses that the parent incurred on behalf of the child as a result of the sexual relations. Although these types of cases are quite rare and some states have abolished actions for these types of cases, there are still some states in which the cause of action may be maintained. More... |
| Federal Tort Claims Act -- Scope of Employment |
| The Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) applies to claims for personal injury caused by the negligence of a federal government employee who is acting within the scope of his or her employment, under circumstances where a private person would be liable under state law. Therefore, in order for the FTCA to apply, the employee's negligence must occur within the scope of his or her employment. Generally, a federal government employee is acting within the scope of his or her employment if the employee is engaged in an authorized activity that serves a governmental purpose.More... |
