Tort law worksheet with answers

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

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

In English law, who can normally sue in private nuisance?

1. AA person with a right to the land affected, such as an owner or tenant
2. BAnyone who lives at the property, including family members and lodgers
3. COnly the local authority
4. DAny visitor staying at the property

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

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

A learner driver on her third lesson crashes and injures her instructor. Under Nettleship v Weston, her driving is judged by the standard of:

1. AA professional racing driver
2. BA reasonably competent and experienced driver
3. CA reasonable learner at the same stage
4. DHer own best efforts as a beginner

A firefighter is injured by a heavy jack in an unsuitable lorry rushed to rescue a woman trapped under a vehicle. Under Watt v Hertfordshire CC, the fire authority was:

1. ANot negligent, because saving life justified the risk
2. BNegligent, because firefighters must never take risks
3. CNegligent, because it used an unsuitable vehicle
4. DStrictly liable for injuries to employees

A tall new building blocks television reception for many nearby homes. In Hunter v Canary Wharf, the House of Lords held:

1. AThere was a nuisance, but only the council could sue
2. BThere was no nuisance, as nuisance requires noise
3. CThere was a nuisance, and all residents, including family members and lodgers, could sue
4. DThere was no actionable nuisance, and only those with an interest in land could sue

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