Tort law worksheet with answers

In a personal injury claim, "special damages" usually cover:

1. ACompensation for pain, suffering and loss of amenity up to the date of the trial
2. BSpecific financial losses up to trial, such as lost earnings and medical costs
3. CExtra damages to punish the defendant
4. DA nominal sum to mark that a right was infringed

In English law, the difference between libel and slander is that:

1. ALibel is in permanent form, while slander is in a temporary form such as speech
2. BLibel is a crime, while slander is a tort
3. CLibel concerns companies and public bodies, while slander concerns private individuals
4. DLibel must be true, while slander must be false

An employer's duty to provide competent staff, safe equipment, a safe place and a safe system of work is:

1. AA duty that can be passed to any contractor
2. BA non-delegable duty
3. CA duty that applies only in factories
4. DA duty owed only to managers

A worker inhales silica dust from two sources, only one of which was due to the employer's breach. In Bonnington Castings v Wardlaw, the employer was liable because the guilty dust:

1. AWas more than half of the total dust
2. BWas the only cause of the disease
3. CWas easier to prevent than the other dust
4. DMaterially contributed to the disease

In a claim for psychiatric harm, a "secondary victim" must usually show:

1. AA close tie of love and affection and closeness in time and space to the event
2. BOnly that they suffered a recognised psychiatric illness after hearing of the event
3. CThat they were paid to be present
4. DPhysical injury of their own

Workmen leave an open manhole with paraffin lamps. A boy knocks a lamp in, causing an unexpected explosion and burns. In Hughes v Lord Advocate, the defendants were:

1. ANot liable, because the boy was a trespasser
2. BLiable, because burns were a foreseeable type of harm
3. CLiable only for half of the damage
4. DNot liable, because the explosion was unforeseeable

As a practical joke, a man falsely tells a woman that her husband has been badly injured. She suffers a serious illness from the shock. In Wilkinson v Downton, the man was:

1. ALiable only in defamation
2. BNot liable, because it was only a joke
3. CLiable for intentionally causing physical harm by a false statement
4. DNot liable, because there was no direct physical contact with the woman

A worker gets dermatitis from brick dust. The employer did not provide washing facilities, but science could not show that washing would have prevented it. In McGhee v National Coal Board:

1. AThe employer was not liable, because the "but for" test could not be satisfied
2. BThe worker was barred by consenting to the risk
3. CThe employer was liable, because its breach materially increased the risk
4. DThe employer was liable for half the damages only