WINFIELD AND JOLOWICZ

ON TORT

FIFTEENTH EDITION, 1998

by

W. V. H. Rogers, M.A.
of Gray's Inn, Barrister;
Sénior Fellow in the University of Nottingham

London Sweet & Maxwell 1998

 CONTENTS

Preface to Fifteenth Edition v

Table of Cases xv
Table of Statutes lxv
Table of Statutoty Instruments lxxvi
Rules of the Supreme Court Ixxvii
E.C. Treaties and Conventions lxxviii
E.C. Legislation lxxix
Draft Legislation lxxx
National Legislation lxxxi

1. MEANING AND FUNCTIONS OF THE LAW OF TORT 1

Meaning of the Law of Tort 1
Foundation of Tortious Líability 18
Tort and other Compensation Systems 20

2. GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF TORTIOUS LÍABILITY 47

Trespass and Case 47
Intention or Negligence or the Breach of Strict Duty 49
Motive and Malice 54

3. NOMÍNATE TORTS 56
Torts not Treated in this Book 59

4. TRESPASS TO THE PERSON 60

Assault and Battery 63
False Imprisonment 69
Trespass to the Person and Negligence 81
Intentional Harm other than Trespass to the Person 85

5. NEGLIGENCE 90
Duty to Take Care 90
Breach of Duty 171
The Draft Services Directive 193
Consequent Damage 194

6. CAUSATION AND CONTRIBUTORY NEGLIGENCE 195

Causation in Fact 199
Lega] Causation; Remoteness of Damage 207
Contributory Negligence 232
X CONTENTS

7. BREACH OF STATUTORY DUTY 247

Existence of Liability 247
Elements of the Tort 260
Misfeasance in a Public Office 265

8. EMPLOYERS' LIABILITY 268

Introductory 268
Statute Law 272
Common Law 276

9. LIABILITY FOR LAND AND STRUCTURES 289

Introduction 289
Modern Law: The Occupier's Liability Act 1957 291
Liability to Trespassers 310
Liability of Vendors and Lessors 313

10. LIABILITY FOR DEFECTIVE PRODUCTS 326

Liability at Common Law 327
Liability under the Consumer Protection Act 1987 338
Conclusión 351

11. LIABILITY FOR STATEMENTS 353

Essentials of Deceit 354
Liability for Negligent Misstatement 365
Injury to Persons not Relying on the Statement 385

12. DEFAMATION AND RELATED MATTERS 390

Defamation: Definition and Elements 391
Defenees 415
Procedure and Remedies in Defamation 455
Malicious Falsehood 461
Privacy 464

13. TRESPASS TO LAND 472

Trespass Defined 472
Possession 473
Interference 476
Defences 480
Remedies 484

14. NUISANCE 490

Introduction 490
Public and Prívate Nuisances 492
Basic Differences between Public and Prívate Nuisance 496
Reasonableness 496
Standard of Liability in Nuisance 506
 CONTENTS XI

Source of the Interference 511

Who can Sue 512
Who can be Sued 514
Damage 522
Defences 523
Highways 528

15. STRICT LIABILITY: RULE IN RYLANDS v. FLETCHER 538

The Rule in Rylands v. Fletcher 538
The Present Law 543
Defences to the Rule 550
Remoteness of Damage 558
Fire 559
Strict Liability under Modern Legislation 562

16. ANIMALS 569

Ordinary Liability In Tort 569
Liability for Dangerous Animáis 571
Liability for Straying Livestock 577
Remoteness of Damage and Strict Liability under the Act 580
Protection of Livestock against Dogs 581

17. INTERFERENCE WITH GOODS 583

Trespass to Goods 585
Conversión 588
Defences to Conversión 605
Measuring of Damages for Interference with Goods 612
Other Causes of Action for Wrongful Interference with
Goods 616

18. INTERFERENCE WITH CONTRACT OR BUSINESS 618

Interference with a Subsisting Contract 621
Conspiracy 641
Interference with Trade by Unlawful Means 649
Trade Disputes 654
Passing orf 667

19. ABUSE OF LEGAL PROCEDURE 678

Malicious Prosecution 678
Malicious Process 687
Malicious Civil Proceedings 688
Maintenance and Champerty 691

20. VICARIOUS LIABILITY 693

Liability where there is a "Contract of Service" 693
Course of Employment 703
Xll CONTENTS

Employer's Indemnity 714

Liability for Agents: Vehicle Drivers 716
Employer and Independent Contractor 718
Basis of Vicarious Liability 724
Reasons for Vicarious Liability 727
21. JOINT AND SEVERAL TORTFEASORS 729
Distinction Between Joint and Several Liability 731
Contribution Between Tortfeasors 733
22. REMEDIES 740

Part I—Damages

Damages Recoverable Once Only 740

Measure of Damages 755
Actions for Personal Injury 758
Loss of or Damage to Property 786

Part II—Other Remedies

Self-Help 792
Injunction 793
Specific Restitution of Property 800
23. DEATH IN RELATION TO TORT 801
Death as Extinguishing Liability 801
Death as Creating Liability 805
Relationship of the Fatal Accidents Act and Law Reform
Act 816
Miscellaneous Statutes 817
24. CAPACITY 818
The State and its Subordinates 818
Judicial Acts 824
Minors 827
Spouses 834
Corporations 835
Partners 838
Clubs 838
Persons of Unsound Mind 839
Aliens 841
Persons Having Parental or Quasi-Parental Authority 841
25. DEFENCES 844
Consent. Volenti non fit injuria 844
Public Policy. Illegality 866
 CONTENTS XH1

Mistake 871
Inevitable Accident 872
Act of God 873
Prívate Defence 874
Necessity 877
Statutory Authority 881

26. EXTINCTION OF LIABILITY IN TORT 883

Waiver 883
Accord and Satisfaction 884
Judgment 886
Limitation 886
Assignment of Right of Action in Tort 904
Insolvency 907

Index 909