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Summary Tort Law
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Summary of 81 pages for the course Tort Law at University of Law (London)
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UNIT 1: TRESPASS TO THE PERSON7. THE TORT OF TRESPASS TO THE PERSON
7.1 Introduction
Incorporates three separate torts: assault, battery and false imprisonment (not covered).
7.2 Common Issues
Both assault require intentional conduct - Letang v Cooper [1964]. Trespass to the person is
also ‘actionable per se’, the claimant need not prove any actual harm in order to sue.
7.3 Definition of Assault and Battery
Battery is the intentional direct application of unlawful force to another person. Assault is an
intentional act by the defendant that causes another person to reasonably apprehend the
immediate infliction of a battery upon him.
7.4 Requirements of Battery
● Unlawful force: there is a ‘general exception embracing all physical contact which
is generally acceptable in the conduct of everyday’ - F v West Berkshire Health Authority
[1989].
● Intentional conduct: D need not intend the consequences of his actions. It is
enough that the actions themselves are intentional - Wilson v Pringle [1986].
● Direct application of force: ‘Direct’ means the force must flow almost immediately
and without intervention from the defendant’s actions. It is not necessary that D make
physical contact with C’s body, provided that the medium used is controlled by D.
7.5 Requirements of Assault
● Intentional conduct by D
● Reasonable apprehension by C…
● of an immediate infliction of battery.
It is not necessary for D to intend the C apprehends the infliction of battery.
Assault by words alone
Historically, it was thought that words alone could not amount to an assault - Read v Coker
[1853].
But, in R v Ireland [1998] it was held that they can.
, 7.6 Other Intentionally Caused Harm
Situations where C has acted intentionally but neither assault or battery seem to fit the facts.
If the harm that C has suffered falls outside the recognised existing law then C’s claim will fail
unless he convinces the court to change the existing law, eg. Wilkinson v Downton [1897],
where D’s intentions were liable; this only works if c has suffered some tangible damage as a
result.
The scope of the rule in Wilkinson v Downton was considered by the Lords in Wainwright v
Home Office [2004], which ruled that Wilkinson v Downton did not apply unless the claimants
had suffered a medically recognised condition (rather than stress or upset).
Victims may also use the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 against people who carry out a
course of conduct that amounts to harassment.
7.7 Causation and Remoteness
Although trespass to the person is actionable per se, if C has suffered tangible harm (eg. an
injury) and wishes to recover fully from D, C must prove D’s tort ‘caused’ his loss and that the
loss is not ‘too remote’.
7.8 Defences
Once C has proved that D has committed a trespass to the person, it is for D to justify the action
by making out one of the available defences.
7.8.1 Consent
If C has expressly or impliedly consented to D’s actions, D will not be liable in trespass to the
person.
Chatterton v Gerson [1981] - Consent must be ‘real’, eg. a patient’s consent to medical
treatment will be ‘real’ once the patient has been informed in broad terms of the nature of the
procedure which is intended.
In the case of sport, a competitor consents to all conduct within the rules of the sport, as well as
conduct which may fall outside of the rules, but is nonetheless within its nature - Condon v Basi
[1985].
Chester v Afshar [2004] – a doctor’s failure to disclose risks will not invalidate the patient’s
consent.
Consent is not real if induced by misrepresentation.
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