Tort law worksheet with answers

Free printable Tort law worksheet: 8 problems from easy to exam level, with an answer key. Print it or save it as a PDF.

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1.Easy

Private nuisance concerns:

  1. ADamage to personal reputation
  2. BUnreasonable interference with a person's use or enjoyment of land
  3. CBreaking a contract with a neighbour
  4. DAny loud noise in a public place
2.Easy

In English law, is there a general duty to rescue a stranger in danger?

  1. AYes, but only for trained professionals
  2. BNo, unless the stranger asks for help
  3. CNo, there is generally no liability for a pure omission
  4. DYes, everyone must try to rescue anyone in danger
3.Easy

Compensatory damages in tort generally aim to:

  1. APunish the defendant for the wrongdoing
  2. BDivide the loss equally between the parties
  3. CPut the claimant in the position they would have been in if a promise had been kept
  4. DPut the claimant in the position they would have been in without the tort
4.Medium

Rylands v Fletcher liability concerns:

  1. AEscape of a dangerous thing brought onto land in a non-natural use
  2. BDefamation in newspapers
  3. CLiability for any harm caused by careless use of land, even without escape
  4. DMedical negligence
5.Medium

A man bangs trays and shouts every time his neighbour, a music teacher, gives lessons, purely to annoy her. In Christie v Davey, the court held:

  1. AMusic lessons are themselves a nuisance
  2. BOnly the police could deal with the noise
  3. CIntention is irrelevant in nuisance, so his motive could not affect the claim
  4. DHis malice made the noise an unreasonable use of land and a nuisance
6.Medium

The Bolam test applies to:

  1. AOccupiers' liability to trespassers
  2. BThe standard of care expected of professionals such as doctors
  3. CThe remoteness of damage
  4. DDefamation defences
7.Hard

The "eggshell skull" rule means that:

  1. AThe defendant must take the victim as found, including unusual vulnerabilities
  2. BFragile victims cannot recover damages
  3. COnly foreseeable claimants can sue
  4. DHead injuries are compensated at a fixed rate
8.Hard

Young offenders escape while their officers sleep, and damage a yacht nearby. In Home Office v Dorset Yacht Co, the House of Lords held:

  1. ANo duty, because the Home Office is part of the Crown
  2. BA duty could be owed, because the officers had control over the offenders
  3. CNo duty, because the damage was done by third parties acting of their own free will
  4. DThe yacht owner was contributorily negligent

Answer key

  1. 1. B · Unreasonable interference with a person's use or enjoyment of land
  2. 2. C · No, there is generally no liability for a pure omission
  3. 3. D · Put the claimant in the position they would have been in without the tort
  4. 4. A · Escape of a dangerous thing brought onto land in a non-natural use
  5. 5. D · His malice made the noise an unreasonable use of land and a nuisance
  6. 6. B · The standard of care expected of professionals such as doctors
  7. 7. A · The defendant must take the victim as found, including unusual vulnerabilities
  8. 8. B · A duty could be owed, because the officers had control over the offenders

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