Module SXL-2112:
Tort Law

Module Facts

Run by School of History, Law and Social Sciences

20.000 Credits or 10.000 ECTS Credits

Semester 2

Organiser: Dr Ama Eyo

Overall aims and purpose

This module aims to ensure that students gain an understanding of the types of interests protected by Tort law including how to apply the law accurately in different circumstances.

Course content

The module will allow students to study a range of issues within Tort Law, including but not limited to:

  • Negligence, including its basic principles, duty and standard of care, causation and breach of duty;
  • Medical Negligence including liability for psychiatric injuries;
  • Product Liability;
  • Liability of Public Bodies;
  • Personal Tort such as Defamation;
  • Land Tort such as Nuisance & the Rule in Rylands v Fletcher, Trespass to Land and Occupier’s Liability;
  • Defences and Limitations in Tort Law;
  • Remedies and Compensation in Tort Law.

Assessment Criteria

excellent

Excellent: A- to A* (70+%) An outstanding answer containing all the material relevant to the question and no irrelevancy, all the material and references being accurate and correct, there being no inaccuracy or error, the whole presented in a clear, logical, critical argument with little room for improvement. An answer which demonstrates a complete mastery of the subject.

C- to C+

C- to C+ (50-59%) An answer which, while always in the main accurate and correct, fails to distinguish between relevant and irrelevant material and is lacking in criticism. An answer which while reliable with regard to correctness is either not comprehensive or not entirely pertinent.

threshold

Threshold: D- to D+ (40-49%) An answer which, while predominantly correct in its presentation of material, contains a significant level of error and is therefore not entirely reliable.

good

Good: B- to B+ (60-69%) High Standard: A comprehensive answer, containing all the material relevant to the question and no irrelevancy, all the material and references being accurate and correct, there being no inaccuracy or error, the whole presented in an argument which, while clear, logical and critical, leaves room for improvement in its construction and presentation. An answer which shows complete competence in the subject.

Learning outcomes

  1. Show comprehensive understanding of the role of the Tort Law in the civil justice system and the society more generally.

  2. Identify and describe the main areas of social activities which are regulated by Tort Law and articulate the general principles of tort liability.

  3. Demonstrate knowledge of the general defences in Tort Law.

  4. Communicate relevant legal principles of Tort Law succinctly and effectively to solve problems raised in actual or hypothetical scenarios.

  5. Demonstrate comprehensive understanding of competing policy considerations and their impact on the development of Tort Law.

Assessment Methods

Type Name Description Weight
COURSEWORK Written assignment

Students will complete a 2,500 word essay on topics taken from first five weeks of the semester.

 40.00
EXAM Final examination

Students will sit a two hour exam on topics taken from their studies across the semester. Students will answer two questions; one essay format and one problem question format.

 60.00

Teaching and Learning Strategy

Hours
Private study

The module requires students to undertake private study in order to complete tutorial preparation, an essay and exam preparation. Students will be expected to engage with a range of academic sources to demonstrate further research.

 154
Lecture

The module will be taught by means of 40 hours of lectures over the course of one semester. Lectures are delivered weekly and are two-hours in length.

 40
Tutorial

There will be 6 hours of tutorials over the course of one semester. Tutorials would take place in 1 hour slots in Weeks 24,- 26 and 28 - 30.

Tutorials will routinely require students to engage individually and in groups in acquiring, commenting upon, critically evaluating and applying the principles and details of the subject under the guidance and instruction of the tutor.

 6

Transferable skills

  • Literacy - Proficiency in reading and writing through a variety of media
  • Computer Literacy - Proficiency in using a varied range of computer software
  • Self-Management - Able to work unsupervised in an efficient, punctual and structured manner. To examine the outcomes of tasks and events, and judge levels of quality and importance
  • Exploring - Able to investigate, research and consider alternatives
  • Information retrieval - Able to access different and multiple sources of information
  • Inter-personal - Able to question, actively listen, examine given answers and interact sentistevely with others
  • Critical analysis & Problem Solving - Able to deconstruct and analyse problems or complex situations. To find solutions to problems through analyses and exploration of all possibilities using appropriate methods, rescources and creativity.
  • Presentation - Able to clearly present information and explanations to an audience. Through the written or oral mode of communication accurately and concisely.
  • Argument - Able to put forward, debate and justify an opinion or a course of action, with an individual or in a wider group setting
  • Self-awareness & Reflectivity - Having an awareness of your own strengths, weaknesses, aims and objectives. Able to regularly review, evaluate and reflect upon the performance of yourself and others

Subject specific skills

  • Develop the ability to interpret legal rules and employ techniques of legal reasoning competently and efficiently in order to offer a range of solutions and conclusions to actual or hypothetical complex legal problems, all supported by relevant academic literature, jurisprudence and legislative research. Such solutions will be clearly communicated and presented
  • Develop the ability to analyse complex legal issues, set against the background of the political, social, economic or cultural contexts in which they may arise
  • Develop those skills which are necessary for scholarship and research in legal subjects, namely the ability to identify relevant primary and secondary legal sources and to retrieve accurate legal information using paper and electronic sources

Resources

Resource implications for students

Students should have a copy of the core textbook.

Talis Reading list

http://readinglists.bangor.ac.uk/modules/sxl-2112.html

Reading list

The core textbook are - K. Horsey and E. Rackley, Tort Law, 6th edn., OUP. 2019; or - C. Elliot and F. Quinn, Tort Law (12th edn., Pearson Longman, 2019)

Statute Book - Blackstone’s Contract, Tort and Restitution Statute 2021-2022

Pre- and Co-requisite Modules

Courses including this module

Compulsory in courses:

Optional in courses: