Recent Blog Posts
Special Duties of Animal Owners
OWNERS HAVE A DUTY TO WARN OTHERS ABOUT DANGEROUS ANIMALS While animals are often loving, positive parts of people’s lives, people who own or have control over animals also have a duty to know their pets’ propensities (including temperament, behavior patterns, and likelihood of aggression) and to warn other people if pets are–or may be–dangerous… Read More »
When Has a Person Breached the Duty of Care?
WHAT IS A BREACH OF DUTY? Generally speaking, a “breach” of a duty occurs when a person acts (or fails to act) in a way that violates an applicable, legally-recognized standard of care. Sometimes, people behave in a careless or insensitive manner – or even with hostility – but if the conduct does not… Read More »
Understanding the Legal Difference Between Misfeasance and Nonfeasance
A person’s legal obligations may include a duty to act (an affirmative duty to take some action), a duty to refrain from acting (a duty not to take certain actions), or both. Legal duties may also take on different characteristics in different circumstances, and may include both the duty to act affirmatively in certain situations… Read More »
Negligence Arising From “Special Relationships”
THE LAW RECOGNIZES CERTAIN “SPECIAL RELATIONSHIPS” THAT MAY GIVE RISE TO NEGLIGENCE-RELATED DUTIES Legal liability for negligence requires four elements: (1) a legally recognized duty, (2) a breach of that duty, (3) causation, and (4) damages. Many duties are imposed or created by law, including duties that arise from the relationship between the relevant… Read More »
Can A “Good Samaritan” Be Held Liable For Negligence?
WHEN “GOOD SAMARITANS” ACT NEGLIGENTLY, LEGAL LIABILITY MAY OCCUR The Biblical story of the “Good Samaritan” describes a person (a Samaritan) who voluntarily helps an injured man he discovers lying by the side of the road. In the Bible, the Samaritan is praised for his actions – as, indeed, society does (and should) consider… Read More »
Employer Liability For Negligent Hiring
WHAT IS NEGLIGENT HIRING? Negligent hiring is a form of negligence which may or may not be actionable (or create liability for employers in California) depending upon the facts and circumstances of each individual case. Negligent hiring differs from respondeat superior, which is a cause of action that may accrue against an employer for torts… Read More »
Understanding The Duty Of Care
UNLESS A DUTY OF CARE EXISTS, THERE CAN BE NO ACTIONABLE NEGLIGENCE The existence of a duty of care is a threshold requirement for negligence claims. Unless a duty of care exists, and unless the defendant owes that duty to the plaintiff who suffered injury, there can be no valid negligence claim. This is… Read More »
What is “Legally Actionable Negligence”?
NEGLIGENCE INVOLVES A BREACH OR FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH A DUTY OF CARE Many terms have one meaning in everyday speech and another meaning under the law. This is because the statutes (written laws) and legal precedents (judges’ opinions in court cases) define certain words as “terms of art” that have specialized legal meanings…. Read More »
Permissive Use Liability in Automobile Accidents
WHAT IS “PERMISSIVE USE” LIABILITY? Permissive use liability is a form of imputed or vicarious liability created under the California Vehicle Code (Section 17150). This statute is one of several legal theories that hold the owner of a motor vehicle (often, but not limited to, an automobile) legally responsible for injuries caused by people using the… Read More »
Who Is Legally Liable For Dangerous Conditions on Property?
PREMISES LIABILITY LAW DOES NOT APPLY ONLY TO OWNERS OF PROPERTY. Premises liability law creates duties, rights, and remedies relating to real property and improvements on real property, like buildings, recreational equipment (e.g., swimming pools), and certain kinds of landscaping. The potential liability associated with premises liability applies to any person (including corporations and other legal… Read More »
