Transcript Litigation - Mercer University

Tort Law
Jody Blanke
Professor of Computer Information
Systems and Law
Torts
 Strict Liability
 Intentional Torts
 Negligence
Strict Liability
 Liability without fault
 neither intent nor negligence need be
shown
 Ultrahazardous activities
 e.g., dynamite blasting
 e.g., ownership of wild animals
 lions and tigers and bears …
Intentional Torts




Battery
Assault
False Imprisonment
Intentional Infliction of Emotional
Distress
Defamation
 Libel and slander
 Truth is a defense
 Against media defendants, public
officials and public figures must show
“actual malice”
 e.g., Richard Jewell - Wikipedia, CourtTV
Invasion of Privacy
 Appropriation of name or
likeness
 e.g., Michael Jordan Wine
 Intrusion upon seclusion
 e.g., Jackie O, Holiday Inn,
Mazzio’s Pizza, Sean Penn, Bill
Gates, Bob Dylan, Katz, Kyllo
 False light
 e.g., Parade Magazine Teenage
Prostitution
 Publication of private
embarrassing facts
 e.g., “Joe Hero”
Silvia Leyva at Café Intermezzo
Trespass
 Trespass to land
 Conversion
 Trespass to personal property
(trespass to chattels)
Interference with Contractual
Relations
 $10.5B award against Texaco for
interfering with Penzoil’s contract to
buy Getty (later settled for $3B)
 “Ditch the dish”